PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK Vs. SHRI GOPAL VASUDEVA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Punjab National Bank (successor to the original respondent, New Bank of India, hereafter called "PNB") appeals the judgment of a learned Single Judge, allowing the writ petition of the respondent workman and directing his reinstatement. The workman was aggrieved by the award of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal (CGIT) dated 20.07.1992 which upheld PNB's order dismissing him from its service on proven misconduct.

(2.) The workman had joined the services of the bank in 1971 as a clerk at the Agra Branch. He was transferred to the Kanpur Branch and worked there from 01.05.1971 till 17.06.1972 after which he was transferred to the Ghaziabad branch. He alleged that the PNB management did not like him because he was active in trade union activities. He was placed under suspension with effect from 29.05.1973 and issued the first charge sheet on 16.06.1973. This charge sheet referred to his previous lapses, recorded in a Memo dated 22.02.1973, which was initially refused but in respect of which on 02.03.1973, he accepted his fault and gave his unconditional apology. Those charges were reiterated in this charge sheet, which also alleged as follows:

(3.) The workman was given a memo which reads as under: -