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NON-REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL  NO(S).  11338 OF 2018 [@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO. 11625 OF 2018]

R.U. PATEL - ASSISTANT TEACHER                Appellant (s)

                               VERSUS

COMMISSIONER (SCHOOLS) GUJARAT STATE & ORS.   Respondent(s)

J U D G M E N T

KURIAN, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. It  is  a  case  where  pursuant  to  the

disciplinary  proceedings  initiated  against  the

appellant  teacher,  he  was  terminated  from

service.   At  one  stage,  the  respondent  –

Management  had  taken  a  resolution  that  the

appellant  could  be  reinstated  subject  to  the

condition that he would forego backwages and that

the  punishment  of  reduction  of  two  increments

will be imposed on him.

3. It  appears  that  on  account  of  a

miscommunication,  the  settlement  did  not  work

out.  The Management, thereafter, terminated the

services of the appellant.  The High Court upheld

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the termination.

4. When the matter reached this Court, we found

that there was a proposal by the Management that

in case the appellant was willing to tender an

unconditional apology, forego backwages and serve

the  punishment  of  reduction  of  two  increments,

the  Management  was  prepared  to  reconsider  its

stand and take him back in service.

5. Having  heard  the  learned  counsel  appearing

for  the  appellant  and  the  learned  counsel

appearing for the Management, we are of the view

that it is in the interest of the parties that

the disputes are finally settled in the spirit of

the  original  proposal  for  settlement.

Accordingly,  this  appeal  is  disposed  of  as

follows :-

i) The appellant will tender an unqualified and

unconditional  apology,  in  writing,  to  the

Management within two weeks from today.

ii) On receipt of such an apology, the Management

will reconsider its stand of termination of his

services and pass order for reinstatement of the

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appellant  in  service  subject  to  the  further

condition  that  the  appellant  shall  not  be

entitled  for  any  backwages  from  the  date  of

suspension till the date of reinstatement.

iii)  The  Management  is  also  free  to  impose

punishment of barring of two increments without

cumulative effect.

iv) Needless to say that on such reinstatement,

the services shall be treated as continuous for

all other purposes.   

No costs.   

.......................J.               [ KURIAN JOSEPH ]  

.......................J.               [ HEMANT GUPTA ]  

New Delhi; November 26, 2018.