SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 9: In a significant development, the Supreme Court has dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Jharkhand government challenging the reinstatement of Dr A.K. Lal, former Civil Surgeon of East Singhbhum, who was dismissed from service in 2022.
Dr Lal, a 1990-batch medical officer, was removed from service by the state government on March 31, 2022, while serving as the Civil Surgeon of East Singhbhum. His dismissal was based on allegations that he had contested the Bihar Assembly elections from the Jhanjharpur seat in Madhubani district in 2005, while still employed in government service.
Challenging the dismissal, Dr Lal approached the Jharkhand High Court. On April 1, 2023, Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay’s bench ruled in his favour and set aside the state government’s order.
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The Jharkhand government subsequently filed an SLP in the Supreme Court against the High Court’s verdict. However, on Tuesday, the apex court dismissed the petition, providing substantial relief to Dr Lal.
Dr Lal was due to retire in 2024, with the retirement age for medical officers set at 65. His dismissal came two years before his scheduled retirement.
While the detailed judgment from the Supreme Court is still awaited, especially with regard to possible compensation or service restoration for Dr Lal, the ruling marks a decisive turn in the long-standing case.
Background of the Charges
The state government had accused Dr Lal of contesting the Bihar Assembly elections in 2005 while still employed as a government officer. However, sources close to Dr Lal claim that he had submitted his resignation before filing his nomination. Due to delayed response from the government, he went ahead with his nomination, but after his resignation was rejected and the withdrawal deadline had passed, he returned to Jharkhand without participating in any campaign or political activities.
Controversy Rekindled Years Later
The issue resurfaced over 15 years later, reportedly after a senior official of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Jamshedpur chapter—allegedly holding a grudge against Dr Lal—raised the matter again. The official, in alleged coordination with local Member of Legislative Assembly Saryu Rai, brought the issue to the floor of the Assembly, ultimately leading to Dr Lal’s dismissal.
