S PAULRAJ Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner was employed as Deputy Registrar / Special Officer at Salem Agricultural Producers Marketing Society (SAPCMS), Salem during the period 23.12.1991 to 07.11.1994. Later, he was promoted as Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies cum Principal of Samiappa Cooperative Management Training Institute, Thanjavur.

(2.) While he was serving as a Joint Registrar, the respondent issued a charge memo dated 12.10.1999 alleging dereliction of duties as Deputy Registrar during the period referred to above. The petitioner submitted his explanation on the charge memo on 18.11.1999. Not satisfied with the explanation, an official in the rank of Assistant Registrar came to be appointed as Enquiry Officer. The respondent communicated the report of the Enquiry Officer along with a memo dated 21.06.2005 to the petitioner and sought his views thereon. He gave his explanation on the report of the Enquiry Officer on 12.07.2005 and no final orders were passed thereon.

(3.) In the meantime, he reached the age of superannuation on 30.06.2005. However, the respondent issued an order dated 30.06.2005 suspending him from service pending enquiry into the grave charges made in the charge memo dated 12.10.1999 and he was not permitted to retire from service.