ANIL KUMAR CHANDHOK Vs. PUNJAB AND SIND BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE above Writ Petitions involve common facts and raise common questions of law and are being disposed of by this common judgment. For the sake of convenience, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 15810/2006 filed by Mr. Anil Kumar chandhok is being treated as the lead case.

(2.) THE petitioners are employees of Punjab and Sind Bank (hereinafter referred to as the respondent no. 1, for short ). They are office bearers of punjab and Sind Bank Staff Union, a recognized trade union affiliated to All india Banks Employees Association.

(3.) DISCIPLINARY proceedings are under way against the petitioners for acts of alleged misconduct vide charge-sheet dated 2nd June, 2006. It is alleged that on 10th March, 2006, the petitioner, Mr. Anil Kr. Chandhok who was posted at janakpuri Branch of respondent no. 1-Bank, indulged in riotous behavior. It is alleged that the said petitioner was joined in the said act of misbehavior by the other petitioners who were posted at the Chandni Chowk and Cannaught Circus branches of the Bank. The other petitioners are alleged to have left their respective branches during duty hours without authorization/permission. They created riotous atmosphere and threatened Mrs. Kuldip Kaur Baweja-Branch manager, who has been impleaded as respondent no. 5. It has been alleged in the charge-sheet that the petitioners abused the lady Branch Manager and threatened to physically assault her. It is further alleged that the Bank Branch in question had to stop functioning for an hour on account of actions perpetrated by the petitioners. The respondent no. 5 had made two representations dated 11th march, 2006 and 20th March, 2006 making allegations of unruly behaviour by the petitioners, coupled with use of abusive language. The representation dated 11th march is also signed by other staff employees posted at the Janakpuri Branch. The second representation dated 20th March, 2006 recounts the same incident in detail and it is submitted that use of vulgar and abusive language with sexual connotations should be treated as such in accordance with law.