CHANDRAKANT CHHOTUBHAI PATEL Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner, a retired Deputy Executive Engineer, who was earlier employed with second respondent is before this Court questioning the initiation of an inquiry after a lapse of 15 years of the date of the alleged incident.

(2.) THE petitioner joined the services on 07.08.1978 as Junior Engineer which post was subsequently upgraded to Assistant Engineer. He was then promoted as Deputy Executive Engineer on 29.08.2002 and retired on 31.10.2012.

(3.) IN the year 1997, while he was discharging his duty as Assistant Engineer in Narmada Yojna Canal, SubDivision No.2/10, Dakor Office, two lapses were alleged to have been committed by him. A showcausenotice was therefore issued on 04.01.2012 produced at Annexure "A" which was replied by the petitioner on 08.02.2012 and 06.08.2012 produced at Annexure "B" collectively. Dissatisfied with the reply, the respondent No.1 decided to hold departmental inquiry against him and thus a chargesheet dated 25.10.2012 before about five days of petitioner's superannuation came to be served upon him, which is produced at Annexure "C" and is challenged in this petition.