Rajasthan High Court Quashes Unreasoned Suspension Order By RSRTC Officer, Bars Her From Discharging Duty Until Legal Training
Quashing an unreasoned order passed by the Executive Officer (traffic) of State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) concerning suspension of a worker, the Rajasthan High Court directed the DoP's Principle Secretary to ensure that the concerned officer was given training about the procedure and legal principles.
While underscoring the significance of a reasoned order, the bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Jain further directed that the officer shall not be allowed to discharge her duty relating to management of human resources in RSRTC, until the aforementioned training was complete.
The Court was hearing a petition wherein the order of the Executive Officer was challenged. It was observed that the petitioner had filed a representation before the Executive Officer which was disposed of by her merely on the ground that the suspension was justified.
In this background, the Court highlighted that the order did not lay down any reasons while disposing the representation, and observed that,
“The reasons are live-links between the minds of the decision taker to the controversy in question and the decision arrived at. Time and again it has been said that whenever any decision is taken which adversely affect any of the party, then it is duty of the decision-making authority to assign reason for allowing the representation filed by petitioner, or dismissal of the representation.”
In this light, the order passed by the officer was set aside and the matter was remitted to the Managing Director, RSRTC.
Further, the Principle Secretary, DOP, RSRTC was directed to provide training to the officer on procedure and legal principles, and held that before completion of training, she shall not discharge any duty relating to management of human resource in RSRTC.
Title: Pradeep Gupta v Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation & Ors.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Raj) 119