R N KALYANI Vs. SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER ELEC

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this petition prescribed by the petitioner, the cashier, in the service of the Karnataka Electricity Board the following question of law arise for consideration. Whether the Karnataka Electricity Board has no jurisdiction to hold departmental inquiry against the petitioner as a criminal proceeding is also pending against the petitioner before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bagalkot, in respect of some of the charges which also constitute the subject matter of departmental inquiry?

(2.) The petition has come up for preliminary hearing after notice to the respondents. By consent of both the counsel it is taken up for final hearing and is disposed of by this order.

(3.) The facts of the case, in brief, are as follow : On 25-7-1987 the articles of charges framed against the petitioner by respondent No. 1, who is specially empowered Authority, was served on the petitioner. The three charges framed against the petitioner are :-