VIDYA RAIKAR Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, who are/were the employees of the second respondent Karnataka Road Transport Corporation ('KSRTC' for short), have challenged the articles of charges and have also sought the declaration to the effect that the KSRTC and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation ('BMTC' for short) have no power either under the Security Standing Order, dated 04.04.1957 or under the Security Standing Order No.10/1983 to lay the traps against the petitioners and the further declaration that the disciplinary proceedings cannot be initiated under these two Standing Orders against the petitioners. The petitioner Nos. 1 and 2 had earlier filed W.P.Nos.6627-6628/2013, seeking the writ of certiorari for quashing the disciplinary proceedings. The said writ petitions came to be disposed of by this Court, by its order, dated 29.8.2013, reserving the liberty to the said petitioners to advance the plea, in the domestic enquiry, that the vigilance officers were not competent to lay a trap. On the filing of the application advancing such a plea, the enquiry officer dismissed it by his order, dated 03.03.2014. The petitioners have subsequently amended their petitions for raising the challenge to the order of the enquiry officer, dated 03.03.2014.

(2.) At the very outset of her submissions, Smt.H.R.Renuka, learned counsel for the respondent Nos. 2 to 6 submits that these petitions have become infructuous in respect of petitioner Nos. 2 and 5, namely, Sri Ramesh and Sri U.S.Karegowda, as they are dismissed from service on 13.04.2015 and 13.12.2014 respectively.

(3.) Sri Kashinath, learned counsel for the petitioner requests that the liberty be reserved to the said petitioners to challenge the dismissal orders.