New Delhi: A constable who lost his job for making an extra buck by driving a public transport bus has failed to get a relief from the Delhi High Court.

The court refused to order his reinstatement and pulled him up for showing indiscipline and taking up a second job despite being a government servant.

Dismissing a petition filed by Ashok Kumar, a Division Bench of Justice A K Sikri and Justice Vipin Sanghi in a recent judgement said, "He (Kumar) being a government servant was engaging himself in other trade and undertaking employment other than his usual duties".

According to the department, in July 1997, Kumar, who was posted as a Personal Orderly to an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) at IGI Airport, had violated his service rules and was illegally driving a private bus.

Not only that, in the presence of Police Commissioner near ITO intersection close to the Police Headquarters, Kumar while driving the bus had jumped a red light and endangered the lives of general public, the department said.

He was dismissed in December 1997 on the basis of the departmental enquiry report. He was also chargesheeted for committing the offence of rash and negligent driving.

The trial Court, however, in 2000 acquitted him from the criminal charges.

Justice Sikri declined to accept Kumar's contention that he should be reinstated as constable following his acquittal in the criminal case. "The petitioner belonged to a disciplined force created to enforce the law. However, it is seen that he himself breached the law with impunity, putting the lives of public at large in danger. We find no merit in the petition and dismiss the same."

Source : PTI