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{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4919285 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8804982\charrsid4147547 
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9139773 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8804982\charrsid4147547 (WESTERN DIVISION)}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12083463\charrsid4147547 
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\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11420031 Civil Jurisdiction}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11420031\charrsid4147547 
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\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547\charrsid13851188 s/o Ram Singh}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8804982\charrsid4147547 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547 Plaintiff
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4919285 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4919285 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13851188 AND}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4919285 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4919285 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547\charrsid4147547 LAUTOKA CITY COUNCIL
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547 Defendant
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\par Dr. M.S. Sahu Khan, Counsel for the Plaintiff
\par Mr. B.C. Patel and Mr. V.Kalyan,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13525644 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547 Counsel for the Defendant
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4919285 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547\charrsid4147547 JUDGMENT}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4147547 
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\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4919285 The plaintiff in this case was a storeman employed by the Lautoka Town Council while Lautoka was still a town and on {\*\xmlopen\xmlns1{\factoidname date}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Year}
{\xmlattrvalue 1978}}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Day}{\xmlattrvalue 8}}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Month}{\xmlattrvalue 5}}}1st June 1977{\*\xmlclose}
 was summarily dismissed by the City Council. He now claims damages from the Council alleging that he was wrongfully dismissed and asks for loss of salary and consequential relief. The Council demurs to his claim.
\par 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6782671\charrsid11998233 It appears that in February 1976 it was reported to the Council that the plaintiff had stolen kerosene from the store. He was asked about the theft and denied it. However}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11998233 
 the Council decided that he should be prosecuted, and reported the matter to the police in March 1976, as a result of which the plaintiff was charged with larceny. He first appeared before the Court in June 1976, but the matter dragged on until }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13908823 on }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11998233 {\*\xmlopen\xmlns1{\factoidname date}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Year}{\xmlattrvalue 1978}}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Day}
{\xmlattrvalue 8}}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Month}{\xmlattrvalue 5}}}2nd May 1977{\*\xmlclose}
 plaintiff pleaded guilty. Apparently the trial had begun, and the Magistrate then remarked that the matter seemed somewhat trivial, and plaintiff was then advised to plead guilty apparently on the unders
tanding that he was unlikely to be sent to goal. The charge was read out to him again and he did plead guilty. He was then ordered to be discharged conditionally upon his committing no further offence within a period of 12 months from his conviction. Of c
ourse what appeared to the Magistrate as trivial would not necessarily be so regarded by the Council, and the plaintiff having been convicted on his own admission of stealing, the council then decided to dismiss him}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1079351  and on {\*\xmlopen\xmlns1{\factoidname date}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Year}{\xmlattrvalue 1978}}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Day}{\xmlattrvalue 8}}{\xmlattr\xmlattrns0{\xmlattrname Month}
{\xmlattrvalue 5}}}1st June 1977{\*\xmlclose} he was paid his salary to that date and summarily dismissed. Plaintiff says that the City Engineer told him that his conviction would not interfere with his employment and }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14383786 he was therefore surprised when he received notice of its termination. His employm
ent had not been interfered with between the time when he was charged and the time when he was convicted, and he had continued to be employed on full pay. His contention now is that the Council by so continuing his employment have condoned his theft.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4919285 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14383786 
\par Although plaintiff told this Court that he was not guilty, and that he only pleaded guilty because}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14954155  the affair had been going on so}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14383786 
 long, I think that the position then is that if he wishes to prove hi}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15532309 s innocence, the burden of proof}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14383786  rests upon him, for the fac
t of conviction is conclusive and evidence must be adduced which will be sufficient to rebut its}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14954155  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15271072 conclusive nature. See }{
\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15271072\charrsid15271072 Stupples v Royal Insurance}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15271072 
 (1970) 3 AER 230. No evidence was in fact brought and, indeed, Dr. Sahu Khan told the Court that plaintiff was not concerned with what really happened, but with the way it was done. His client\rquote 
s allegation that the City Engineer promised that he would not be dismissed is however material. It is an allegation whose proof rests upon him. It was not pleaded. It is not supported by }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14954155 
correspondence. There was}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15271072  plenty of time }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14954155 
after plaintiff was dismissed for the allegation to have been made in correspondence. There was indeed plenty of time }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15271072 for the plaintiff to have had evidence taken from the City Engineer, because it w
as stated in evidence that he did not leave the council\rquote s employ until December 1977. Moreover }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12802298 
even the reason given by the plaintiff in evidence as to what he was told by Mr. Gupta, the City Engineer was equivocal. I do not believe the plaintiff. I do not believe that the City Engineer made any promise about plaintiff\rquote 
s employment or that plaintiff believed that he had made any promise that he would not be dismissed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14383786 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12802298 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12802298\charrsid6952588 The plaintiff put in evidence a copy if an agreement relating to council employees, and 
it is not disputed that the terms of the agreement relate to the plaintiff. That agreement permits the summary dismissal of the employee if, among other things he is guilty of misconduct inconsistent with the fulfilment of the express or implied condition
s}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6952588  of his conduct of service. I do not doubt that if the employee is guilty of stealing the Council\rquote 
s property he is guilty of misconduct inconsistent with his service. Of course he was guilty of that misconduct as far back as March 1976. The Council might h
ave then summarily dismissed him. They decided to report the matter to the police and they awaited the result of the police prosecution.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12802298 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6952588 
\par Dr. Sahu Khan submits that when the Council proceeded to consider the position of this employee who had betrayed his t
rust by stealing from his employer they should have given him a hearing. I cannot accept that, and Dr. Sahu Khan did not furnish any authority to support him. Indeed the judgments of Cotton L.J. and Bowen L.J. in }{
\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6952588\charrsid6952588 Boston Deep Sea Fishing and Ice Company v Ansell}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6952588 
 (1888) 39 Ch D 339 seem to indicate that no matter how old the offence is, the legal right remains.
\par 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15532309 Dr. Sahu Khan placed}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4399307\charrsid12010003  some reliance on }{\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4399307\charrsid12010003 Phillips v Foxall}
{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4399307\charrsid12010003  (1872) 7 LRQB 666, and on the dictum of Blackburn J at page 680 \'93Now the law gives the master
 the right to terminate the employment of a servant on his discovering that the servant is guilty of fraud. He is not bound to dismiss him, and if he elects after knowledge of the fraud, to continue him in his service, he cannot at any subsequent time dis
miss him on account of what he has waived or condoned.\'94
 I accepted that statement, with respect, as a correct statement of law. The evidence shews that after the plaintiff was convicted his case was considered by a committee of the Council who recommended his dismissal \endash 
 a recommendation accepted by the full Council. This took just under a month. I am not prepared to say that the Council has lost its right of summary dismissal. Perhaps }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8206389\charrsid12010003 
they could have suspended him when they decided to prosecute, but by their omission to do so, the plaintiff is $2,500 better off. I do not see that he can complain. Dr. Sahu Khan submitted that the Council\rquote 
s evidence was that plaintiff was dismissed because he had admitted to stealing kerosene from the Council while employed by the Council. Dr. Sahu Khan relied on }{\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8206389\charrsid12010003 Horton v McMurtrie}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8206389\charrsid12010003  (1860)}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10057906\charrsid12010003  5 H }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12010003 
& N 667, 675, 157 E.R. 1347, 1350, in which the ground of the servant\rquote s discharge is stated thus: \'93Bladders were bought by the servant from one person and he represented to his master that another person was the seller.\'94
 That was held sufficient to justify summary dismissal, the servant\rquote s inte}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8469908 ntion to make a commission and }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12010003 
his untruth to his master both being relevant. Likewise in }{\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12010003\charrsid3953739 Jupiter General Assurance v Shroff}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12010003  (1937) 3 AER 67, 73-74, D
r. Sahu Khan refers to the comment of the Privy Council that the immediate dismissal of an employee is a strong measure, and that it would be only in exceptional circumstances that an employer would be justified in dismissing an employee for a single act 
of negligence. I accept all that, but I emphasise that this was not }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3953739 \lquote a single act of negligence\rquote . This was theft of the council\rquote s property by the Council\rquote 
s servant which plai}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8469908 ntiff had admitted }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3953739 and dishonesty has always been a ground for summary dismissal see the comment ascribed to Park J in }{
\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3953739\charrsid3953739 Cunningham v Fonblanque}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3953739  (1833) 172 E.R. 1139, 1141 \'93If a servant robs his master he may though a month\rquote 
s notice is required, dismiss him without notice and need not pay him a month\rquote s wages\'94. }{\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3953739\charrsid3953739 R v Smith}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3953739 
 (1844) 5 Q.B. 614 was also cited by Dr. Sahu Khan. That is a different type of case altogether. There a priest dismissed his parish clerk for interrupting him in the services and the Court of Queen\rquote s Bench held that the }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10432931 clerk}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3953739  could not be summarily dismissed. But that is not this case. In my view the plaintiff\rquote 
s action fails and must be dismissed, with the usual result that he will pay the defendant Council\rquote s costs to be agreed or taxed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6952588 
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\par JUDGE
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\par }}