ISHWARI PRASAD Vs. RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As the facts and issues involved in these writ petitions are similar, I propose to dispose of both the writ petitions by this common Judgment/ order.

(2.) While the petitioners were working with respondent No.l charge sheets were issued to them in terms of regulation 47 of RBI Staff Regulations, 1948. Replies to the aforesaid charge sheets were filed by the petitioners which were found to be not satisfactory and departmental enquiries were conducted against the petitioners. On completion of the enquiry proceedings the enquiry officer submitted his report finding the petitioners guilty of the charges and show cause notices were issued to the petitioners, proposing to impose on the petitioners penalty of reducing their basic pay by four stages. On receipt of the aforesaid notices replies thereto were submitted and thereafter on 27/3/1996 orders of punishment against the petitioners were passed reducing the petitioners by three stages. It was also ordered that the reduction shall have the effect of postponing their future increments in the substantive grades.

(3.) Being aggrieved by the said order the petitioners filed appeals before the Appellate Authority, and upon going through the appeals the Appellate Authority found that the order of the Disciplinary Authority was justified on the facts and circumstances of the case and also found that the punishment awarded to the petitioners could not be termed as severe or excessive and thereupon rejected the appeals. Being aggrieved by the said orders the present petitions have been preferred in this Court.