PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK Vs. M L BANSAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present intra Court appeal impugns the order dated 16th January, 2015 passed by the learned Single Judge in WP (C) No.824/1999 whereby while allowing the writ petition filed by the respondent, the penalty of removal from service imposed upon the respondent by the appellant/Bank has been modified to that of compulsory retirement.

(2.) The facts as emerge from the record, are that the respondent/employee while working as a Chief Inspector, Inspection & Control Division Head Office of the appellant/Bank, was issued a chargesheet dated 11th March, 1994 on the ground that he had committed irregularities while working in the Credit Department at the Head Office of the erstwhile New Bank of India and had, thus, not discharged his duty with utmost integrity by not taking adequate steps to ensure the protection and interest of the appellant/Bank. The fulcrum of articles of charge was that the respondent made a recommendation to the Board of the appellant/Bank for facilitating grant of a loan to a party regardless of the shortcomings involved in it. Upon the respondent denying the charges, a departmental inquiry was held against him whereafter the Inquiry Officer submitted his report holding him guilty of the charges, which are reproduced as under:-

(3.) It further transpires from the record that the Disciplinary Authority of the Appellant/Bank vide its order dated 22nd June, 1995, accepted the report of the Inquiry Officer and imposed punishment of removal from service on the respondent with a classification that the same would not be treated as a disqualification for any future employment to be pursued by the respondent. Aggrieved by the penalty order dated 22nd June, 1995, the respondent preferred an appeal dated 17th July, 1995, before the Appellate Authority which was rejected vide order dated 25th August, 1995.