Swarna Shukla-
Published On: September 27, 2021 at 12:45 IST
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court Quashed the termination of the first registrar of Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU), Amethi and directed for reinstatement within a month.
Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to restore Jitendra Singh, the Petitioner, on the post of Registrar with all consequential service benefits on his appointment dated 1st March, 2019.
The Court observed that a Punitive Order cannot be passed against the Petitioner without hearing his side, in conformity of principle of Natural Justice.
Opposing the Plea, Assistant Solicitor General S.B Pandey argued that the termination was passed from the Secretariat of the President of India and is not compliant under the Writ Jurisdiction.
However, the Court stated that for RGNAU, the President of India is a Statutory Authority and the Law is trite that the action of any Statutory Authority shall be subjected to Judicial Review.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation removed Singh on January 8, 2020 and appointed Garima Singh.
Singh’s termination was stated of the following reasons- obstructing an officer appointed by the Government from discharging his duties, fabricating a complaint of sexual harassment by involving two girl students of the university and willful insubordination and indiscipline by exhibiting defiance to the official’s orders.
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