VIJAI PRAKASH SHUKLA Vs. U.O.I.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Through the present Petition, the Petitioner prays for issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari to quash the order dtd. 31/7/2024 [hereinafter referred to as 'Impugned Order'] passed by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi [hereinafter referred to as 'Tribunal'] in O.A. No.2276/2023 whereby the Tribunal declined to interfere with the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the Petitioner and disposed of the Original Application with a direction to the Competent Authority to ensure that the pending inquiry is concluded within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of the said order.

(2.) The principal issue which arises for consideration in the present Petition is whether the learned Tribunal committed any jurisdictional error in refusing to interfere with the charge memorandum dtd. 21/5/2021 and the disciplinary proceedings initiated pursuant thereto, particularly on the grounds urged by the Petitioner, namely, (i) alleged non-compliance with Rule 14(24) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965; and (ii) inordinate delay in conclusion of the inquiry proceedings.

(3.) In order to appreciate the controversy involved in the present Petition, the relevant facts, in brief, are required to be noticed.