S. G. PADMANABHA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners who are Assistant Engineer and Assistant Executive Engineer of Karnataka Slum Development Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board for short) assailed the validity of the Government order dtd. 26/4/2016 issued by Government of Karnataka and the enquiry report dtd. 31/8/2019 as well as recommendation dtd. 9/9/2019 submitted by Upalokayukta-1 and to grant the petitioners all consequential benefits. In order to appreciate grievance of the petitioners, relevant facts need mention, which are stated infra.

(2.) The petitioner No.1 joined the services of the Board on 1/3/1989 as Assistant Engineer and was promoted as Assistant Executive engineer with effect from 10/11/1999. The petitioner No.1 was further promoted as Executive Engineer with effect from 21/2/2011. At the relevant time, petitioner No.1 was posted at Dharwad. Petitioner No.2 joined the services of the erstwhile Board on 8/12/1987 a Junior Engineer and was promoted as Executive Engineer with effect from 22/9/2000. The petitioner No.2 was further promoted as Assistant Executive Engineer and was posted at Dharwad.

(3.) Two complaints were made before Karantaka Lokayukta by Smt.Pramila Kotari and Sri.Ranganaika Tapela that petitioner No.2 in collusion with land mafia has committed certain irregularities in relation to integrated slum development project. The petitioner No.2 thereupon submitted a detailed reply to the Superintendent of Police, in which details of implementation of the project as well as distribution of houses was furnished. The Superintendent of Police directed investigation and after a thorough investigation submitted a report that no irregularities were committed by petitioner No.2 and one K.A.Bashir Ahmed another Executive Engineer had drawn up the list of beneficiaries.