K.S. NARAYANA RAO Vs. LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA, THE ZONAL MANAGER CUM APPELLATE AUTHORITY LIC OF INDIA AND THE SENIOR DIVISIONAL MANAGER CUM DISCIPLINARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner was employed with the respondent -Life Insurance Corporation. Based on certain acts committed by the petitioner, an article -of -charge was issued to him. Three charges were leveled against the petitioner. The petitioner denied the same and an enquiry was held. During the enquiry proceedings, at the first sitting of the enquiry, the petitioner accepted charge Nos. 2 and 3 unconditionally. As regards charge No. 1 he denied the same, stating that he has obtained an authorization letter from the Life Insurance Corporation for receiving the cheque etc. When the documents were produced and the petitioner having examined the same, he accepted charge No. 1. Therefore, on he accepting the three charges, the charges against him were held to be proved. The Disciplinary Authority ordered recovery of interest as well as removal from service of the Corporation, in terms of Regulation -39(1) of LIC of India (Staff) Regulations, 1960. He preferred an appeal. The appeal was dismissed. Hence, the present writ petition.

(2.) THE learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the findings recorded by the Enquiring Officer is improper. That even though he has accepted all the three charges, the same have been done due to the pressure imposed on him and that he does not accept any of the charges. The petitioner further contends that he was assured that in case he accepts the charges he would be let -out with the minor penalty. He further pleads that the punishment imposed on him is disproportionate to the charges leveled

(3.) ON hearing learned counsels, I'm of the considered view that there is no merit in the writ petition.