IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8850 of 2016 ====================================================== Girijanand Singh S/o Kamakhya Prasad Singh, R/o Jagdeo Path, Classic Home Apartment, Flat No. 203, Ara Garden Road, P.S. Sheikhpura, District Patna. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus 1. The State of Bihar through Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Patna. 2. The Additional Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar, Patna. 3. The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Purnea, Government of Bihar, Patna. 4. The Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Department, Purnea, Government of Bihar, Patna. 5. District Magistrate, Kishanganj. 6. Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Harsh Singh, Advocate For the State : Mr. Sunil Kumar Mandal, SC-3 Mr. Bipin Kumar, AC to SC-3 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DR. ANSHUMAN ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 08-07-2025 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. The present writ petition has been filed for the following relief/s:- “I. For quashing of the order dated 04.03.2016 contained in Memo No.378 dated 04.03.2016 passed by the State Government (annexed as Annexure-8) whereby and whereunder the following minor penalties have Patna High Court CWJC No.8850 of 2016 dt.08-07-2025 2/8 been imposed upon the petitioner:- a. Censure to be recorded for the year 2014-15 b. Withholding of one annual increment with non-cumulative effect. II. For any other relief or reliefs for which the petitioner is found entitled in the present facts and circumstances of the case.” 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that since the order has been passed by the State Government, therefore, it is due to this reason, petitioner has no opportunity to prefer appeal and hence, he moved directly before this Hon’ble Court and filed the present writ petition. Counsel submits that the State has not raised any objection in filing the present writ petition. Counsel further submits that admittedly, the order of punishment is minor in nature and Rule 19 of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Bihar CCA Rules, 2005’) provides the methodology of imposing minor punishment. Counsel submits that none of the points has been duly considered which was submitted by the petitioner in his explanation and the most fatal and important point by which adverse effect has been drawn against the present petitioner is that the petitioner has intimated to the officials that due to Patna High Court CWJC No.8850 of 2016 dt.08-07-2025 3/8 Ramzan, labourers were not available at night and they are not ready to do the work at night. And upon intimation before the concerned District Magistrate, an inference has been drawn that the petitioner is not a sensitive officer, in-spite of the fact that the threat of flood situation was there. Counsel submits that the Government of Bihar, Water Resource Department has maintained a Standard Operating Procedure for Flood Management which is annexed as Annexure-7, in which Clause- 4.13 clearly indicates that for the purpose of maintaining the barrier, there shall be a committee of District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police/ Superintendent of Police, Executive Engineer and one officer from the Disaster Management Department. Counsel submits that petitioner was one of the members of the said committee, but responsibility under the said Standard Operating Procedure to provide labours, vehicles etc. has to be provided by the District Magistrate to the Executive Engineer of the Water Resource Department. Counsel submits that the petitioner was well aware that he has to do the work, but the labours have to be provided at the level of District Magistrate according to the Standard Operating Procedure. Counsel submits that the petitioner has made every efforts to make the labours available, but due to Ramzan, labours were not Patna High Court CWJC No.8850 of 2016 dt.08-07-2025 4/8 ready to work at night and they were also not ready to work next day. The intimation has been given to the District Magistrate being the member of the committee and the District Magistrate become angry and under anger, such step has been taken against the petitioner. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that in the show-cause, the petitioner has explained everything before the District Magistrate, but even then, the punishment order has been passed. Counsel submits that the petitioner is completely innocent and he become the scapegoat of speaking the truth before the member of the committee. As, according to the Standard Operating Procedure for Flood Management, it is the District Magistrate who has to arrange everything. 5. Learned counsel for the State on the other hand submits that there is no mistake in conduction of the departmental proceeding and every opportunity has been given to the petitioner. Counsel submits that a sympathetic view has been taken towards the petitioner and under sympathy, minor punishment has been imposed. 6. Upon hearing the parties and after perusal of the order as well as consideration of the charge and reply particularly after going through the Standard Operating Patna High Court CWJC No.8850 of 2016 dt.08-07-2025 5/8 Procedure for Flood Management whose Clause 4.13 is very much relevant which states as follows:- “4.13 बाढ सतरर ता री दृषषष से षजलावार सषमषत रा गठन • तटबंध तथा उनके vkdkzE; सथलो की सुरका एवं गशती के नननमत l”kL= बलो की izfrfu;qfDr की वयवसथा करने हेतु नजला मे एक सनमनत ननमनवत् गनठत नकया जाता है :- 1 नजला पदानधकारी अधयक 2 वरीय पुनलस अधीकक / पुनलस अधीकक सदसय 3 कायरपालक अनभयंता ( बाढ fu;a=.k कायररं से संबंनधत) सदसय 4 आपदा izca/ku नवभाग के संबंनधत नजलासतर के एक पदानधकारी सदसय • बाढ संबंधी कायर के नलए वयवहत ननरीकण वाहनो कर नजला iz”kklu दारा नवनध वयवसथा संबंधी कायर के नलए अनधयानचत नहीं नकया जायेगा। • नजला पदानधकारी, आपात नसथनत मे मजदूरो तथा lkefxz;ksa कर आपात नवनदुओं पर पहुँचाने मे तवनरत सहयरग करते हुए Vªd, VsªDVj इतयानद जल संसाधन नवभाग के कायरपालक अनभयंताओं कर उपलबध कराने की वयवसथा करे गे। • यह पाया गया है नक {ks=h; अनभयंताओं दारा सवीकृ त यरजनाओं के कायारनवयन मे यदा कदा असामानजक तततवो दारा वयवधान उतपनन नकया जाता है जर कायर की izxfr कर बानधत भी करता है। संबंनधत नजला पदानधकारी की यह वयनकतगत नजममेवारी हरगी नक ऐसी नसथनत मे {ks=h; तकनीकी पदानधकानरयो कर सुरका iznku Patna High Court CWJC No.8850 of 2016 dt.08-07-2025 6/8 करे तथा गनतररधो कर ततपरतापूवरक दूर करे , तानक कायर की izxfr बनायी रखी जा सके । साथ ही बाढ सुरकातमक कायररं की गुणवता एवं izxfr की जाँच कर रहे नवशेष जाँच दलो कर भी, उनके दारा मांगे जाने पर वे आवशयक सहयरग उपलबध करायेगे। • जब नकसी तटबंध की सुरका पर गंभीर खतरा उतपनन हर जाय तर मुखय अनभयंता तथा उनके अधीनसथ कायरपालक अनभयंता सतर तक के पदानधकारी, नसथनत की सूचना तुरंत नजला पदानधकारी कर देगे तथा इस नसथनत से dsanzh; बाढ fu;a=.k करषांग पटना कर भी अवगत करायेगे नजसमे इस आशय का भी उललेख हरगा नक संभानवत टूटान से नकतने {ks= izHkkfor होगे। • उपयुरकत सूचना के आधार पर बाढ izca/ku सुधार सहायक dsanz (FMISC), पटना इननडेशन मैप तैयार करेगा। • नजला पदानधकारी का यह कतरवय हरगा नक उपयुरकत मैप के आधार पर संभानवत {ks= के आम जनता के बीच बाढ चेतावनी ननगरत कर देगे तथा संभानवत बाढ से izHkkfor हरने वालो के नलए साहायय की वयवसथा एवं उनहे सुरनकत सथानो पर पहुँचाने की वयवसथा हेतु आवशयक काररवाई करे गे। • साहायय एवं सुरनकत सथान तक पहुँचाने के कायररं का संचालन आपदा izca/ku नवभाग करेगा। • अतयनधक बाढ की नसथनत मे जब नसथनत असैननक iz”kklu के fu;a=.k के बाहर हर जाय, तब सैनय सहायता की अनधयाचना की जायेगी। सथानीय असैननक iz”kklu तथा तकनीकी पदानधकानरयो दारा Patna High Court CWJC No.8850 of 2016 dt.08-07-2025 7/8 ऐसी सहायता की मांग राजय के गृह नवभाग से परामशर करने के बाद ” ही की जायेगी। 7. It transpires to this Court that under the committee for protection from the flood, the District Magistrate was the Chairman and other three members were, Senior Superintendent of Police/Superintendent of Police, Executive Engineer (petitioner) and one member from the Disaster Management Department. And in the aforesaid Clause, it clearly indicates that in the emergent situation, it is the District Magistrate who shall provide truck, tractor, labourers etc. to the Executive Engineer and on this issue, the dispute has arisen. It also transpires to this Court that due to non-availability of the labours, such type of discussion among the meeting is very obvious. But, in-spite of arranging the labours taking action against a member is not proper in view of the Court and particularly, when there is a specific reply made in the explanation filed by the petitioner which is annexed as Annexure-6. 8. This Court is of the firm view that such order is absolutely perverse and not sustainable in the eye of law. Hence, order dated 04.03.2016 contained in Memo No.378 dated 04.03.2016 passed by the State Government (annexed as Annexure-8) is hereby set aside and whatever be the financial Patna High Court CWJC No.8850 of 2016 dt.08-07-2025 8/8 consequences by the said impugned order is hereby ended. And, arrears if any, is directed to be paid to the petitioner within 90 days from the date of production/receipt of the order. 9. Accordingly, with the aforesaid observation and direction, this writ petition is hereby allowed. Divyansh/- (Dr. Anshuman, J) AFR/NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 09/07/2025 Transmission Date NA