M. KRISHNA MUKRI Vs. SYNDICATE BANK,

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this writ appeal, the petitioner in Writ Petition No.20459/2014 has assailed the Order of the learned Single Judge dated 22.09.2017 by which, the learned Single Judge upheld the Order of the Disciplinary Authority dated 28.03.2012 terminating the petitioner from service as well as the Order of the Appellate Authority dated 23.11.2012 by which, the appeal filed by the petitioner before the Appellate Authority was rejected.

(2.) It is evident from the Writ Petition that the petitioner was functioning as a Chief Manager at Bellary Branch of the respondent - Bank and while so officiating, he was placed under suspension on the ground that he had abused his official position and had extended loans to various persons in violation of the norms prescribed under the credit policy of the Bank. Following the order of suspension, a charge sheet was issued on 16.06.2011, whereby the petitioner was accused of granting loan under the Synd Jaikisan Scheme without complying KYC norms and without proper pre-sanction appraisal of the credit proposals and without ensuring end use of the loan and also failed to conduct post sanction follow up. It was further stated that the acts of the petitioner had resulted in an amount of Rs.1,45,01,896/- becoming sticky and exposed these loans to the risk of being classified as 'NPA'. The petitioner is stated to have contested the charge sheet by filing his reply. An Enquiry Officer was appointed who conducted proceedings and submitted his report (Annexure-N). The Enquiry Officer held that some of the charges were proved while some of them were partly proved and another charge was not proved. The Disciplinary Authority before whom the enquiry report was placed, issued a notice, calling upon the petitioner to make his submissions, if any, against acceptance of the report of the Enquiry Officer. The petitioner is stated to have tendered his submission against acceptance of the report of the Disciplinary Authority. The Disciplinary Authority having gone through the submissions made by the petitioner, passed an Order dated 28.03.2012 dismissing the petitioner from the services of the Bank with immediate effect.

(3.) Feeling aggrieved by the aforesaid order of the Disciplinary Authority, the petitioner is stated to have filed an appeal before the Appellate Authority. The Appellate Authority in terms of the order dated 23.11.2012 confirmed the major penalty of dismissal from services of the Bank and consequently dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioner.