AJIT RAVI Vs. COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LTD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is aggrieved by Ext.P18 order issued by the Managing Director awarding a punishment of demotion from the post of Superintendent to the post of Supervisor.

(2.) The main contention of the petitioner is that the Managing Director is not the disciplinary authority. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, referring to clause 47 and 48 of the certified standing orders points out that the HOD (HR) is the disciplinary authority on the staff and the petitioner being a member of staff, the Managing Director did not have any authority to take disciplinary action or to pass final orders on it and on account of this he is deprived of his opportunity to file an appeal against the order of punishment. Clause 48 provides as follows:

(3.) The respondents have filed a counter affidavit producing Ext.R1(a) - the minutes of the 91st meeting of the Board of Directors of Cochin International Airport dated 28.06.2012, in which in respect of item No.28 of the agenda relating to disciplinary action it is stated as follows: