MANGALAGOURI V. BHAT Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Sri Vijaya Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Vikas Rojipura, learned Additional Government Advocate for respondent Nos.1 and 2.

(2.) The unsuccessful applicant in Application No.3755/2022 has preferred this writ petition questioning the correctness of the order dtd. 2/1/2024 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal at Bengaluru (for short, 'the Tribunal').

(3.) The petitioner, while working as superintendent in the Department of Tourism was promoted as Assistant Director and thereafter, she was placed under suspension on 6/6/2013, followed by charge memo dtd. 27/9/2013. The petitioner submitted explanation to the charge memo. On 5/2/2014, the petitioner's suspension was revoked. The enquiry officer was appointed on 31/1/2015. Total 35 charges were framed out of which, enquiry report was submitted holding 20 charges proved. Second show-cause notice was issued on 6/12/2018 seeking explanation on the finding of the enquiry officer. Considering the reply submitted on 21/12/2018, the disciplinary authority by order dtd. 29/1/2019 imposed penalty of reduction of time scale in the cadre of Assistant Director to the lowest scale of pay in the cadre of Tourism Officer permanently. The penalty order was subject matter of challenge in Application No.792/2019 before the Tribunal. The Tribunal set aside the order of penalty and directed reconsideration. The review petition filed against the said order came to be allowed and application was restored.