Chandigarh: In a major setback to the judges elected in the 2002 batch, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed the petition filed seeking reinstatement in service on the basis of their acquittal in the case.
Anil Kumar Jindal and others had filed a petition seeking reinstatement on the plea of acquittal in the Punjab Public Service Commission appointment scam. The petitioners argued that they are former judicial officers appointed to the Punjab Civil Services (Judicial Branch) in 2002 and were selected after an examination.
The Sidhu scam came to light shortly before the issuance of their appointment orders. As a result, the then Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission was arrested on charges of corruption. An FIR was registered against the petitioners on September 5, 2002 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The High Court then took cognizance of the matter and constituted a committee to investigate the matter. The court then recommended termination of service of several batches, including the batch of the petitioners. The dismissal order was challenged in several petitions earlier, but the petition was dismissed by the full bench of the High Court in 2008. This decision was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2010.
The petitioners argued that they were acquitted in the Sidhu scam in 2016. On this basis, they sought restoration of the appointment order dated March 18, 2002. The petitioner said that the Punjab government had rejected his application in February 2017. The High Court said that the petitioners cannot seek reinstatement on the basis of acquittal.