M. S. YOGAMURTHY Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Sri M.S. Bhagwath, learned Senior Counsel appearing for Sri Nagaraj S. Jain, learned counsel for the petitioner; Sri V. Shivareddy, learned Additional Government Advocate for respondent Nos.1 to 4; and Sri K. Prasanna Shetty, learned counsel for respondent No.5.

(2.) The unsuccessful applicant in Application No.5804/2019 has preferred this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, assailing the order dtd. 25/5/2022 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru [for short, 'the Tribunal'].

(3.) The brief facts of the case are that one Thippeswamy lodged a complaint before the Lokayukta Police against the petitioner alleging demand of illegal gratification of 1,500/- for effecting change of Katha, while the petitioner was serving as the Village Accountant of Singapura Village. The Lokayukta Police conducted a trap and seized a tainted amount of 1,000/-. A charge sheet came to be filed for the offences punishable under Ss. 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Sec. 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, after obtaining sanction from the Deputy Commissioner, Chitradurga. In the meantime, the Government, by order dtd. 16/10/2012, entrusted the matter to the Lokayukta for conducting a departmental enquiry under Rule 14-A of the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957 [for short, 'the KCS (CCA) Rules'], and Articles of Charge were issued on 21/12/2012.