ARVIND BHANDARI Vs. RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The writ petitioner was employed as Press Relations Officer at the Central Office of the Reserve Bank of India in Bombay, a very sensitive post which involves the appreciation of the financing and monetary policies of the Government of India through the Reserve Bank of India. Therefore, the functioning of a Press Relation Officer would be very important and a person has to maintain a congenial atmosphere not only amongst the superior officers and himself, but also between the Reserve Bank of India and the Press and the general public. He joined service as Press Relations Officer on March 1, 1985. Right from the beginning, it would appear that he has not been acting and functioning as it was expected of him. Within six years from the date of the joining the office on October 31, 1991 exercising the power under the Regulation 26 of the Reserve Bank of India (Staff) Regulations, 1948, the petitioner was compulsorily retired from the service w.e.f. the close of business on October 31, 1991. Challenging the above order, he filed the writ petition in February 1994.

(2.) In the writ petition originally filed, he impleaded the Finance Minister as the 1st respondent, Reserve Bank of India as the 2nd respondent,Ex. Governor, Reserve Bank of India as the 3rd respondent and Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India as the 4th respondent.

(3.) By order dated 18th March 1994 Their Lordships Mr. Justice A.B.SAHARYA and Mr. Justice Dalveer Bhandari passed the following order :-