DASHRATH LAL AND ORS. Vs. DELHI VIDYUT BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner-Jagwanta was the lineman and remaining three petitioners were Assistant Lineman in Delhi Vidyut Board (hereinafter referred to as DVB), who have been dismissed from service vide impugned order of 8th March, 2000 while dispensing with the Inquiry by invoking Rule 19 (ii) of CCS CCA Rules, 1965.

(2.) Impugned order of 8th March, 2000 discloses that petitioners were placed under suspension on 31st January, 2000 as disciplinary proceedings were contemplated against them. It is evident from the impugned order that on 31st January, 2000, General Manager of M/s. Himalayan Overseas had appeared on a news channel and had disclosed that a day earlier, he had to pay bribe of Rs. 2,000/- to one of the employees of DVB to get his burnt electric meter replaced. The revelation made on the news channel was that one of the employees of DVB had declared that few electric meters were received, but the demand is for more and electric meter can be installed at the premises of the said General Manager provided Rs. 2,000/- is paid. News reporter purportedly took the said General Manager (hereinafter referred to as the complainant) to the sub-station situated at Delhi Okhla Industrial State where before camera, DVB employees present there openly admitted to taking of bribe and had disclosed that the booty/bribe collected is put in a common pool and is divided amongst the lineman staff and on an average, an employee of DVB pockets the bribe of Rs. 1,000/- per day.

(3.) To verify this distressing news, vigilance investigation was got conducted by DVB and as per the vigilance report, one Nafe Singh, Assistant Lineman (ALM) of DVB in his statement on 24th January, 2000 before the Vigilance Staff had admitted that he had spoken to a lady news reporter in the morning of 23rd January, 2000 and had admitted that he was aware that his colleagues i.e. petitioners had visited the industrial premises of the said General Manager of 22nd January, 2000 and had struck the deal for replacement of the burnt electric meter on the next day i.e. Sunday for consideration of Rs. 5,000/-.