S. P. SUBASHKUMAR Vs. REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, GOBICHETTIPALAYAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, challenging the impugned order of the first respondent dtd. 14/1/2020 in and by which the petitioner's request seeking to revoke the order of suspension, came to be rejected, has filed the present writ petition.

(2.) The case of the petitioner is that he joined service in the Revenue Department as Village Administrative Officer, through Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission on 20/4/2012. The petitioner was trapped and arrested by the Vigilance and Anti Corruption, Erode on 24/8/2018 at 13.30 hours for the alleged demand and acceptance of bribe of Rs.7,000.00 for issuance of Possession Certificate. The petitioner was placed under suspension, vide order of the first respondent dtd. 25/8/2018, on account of lodging of FIR by the Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti Corruption, Erode in FIR No.4/AC/2018 dtd. 23/8/2018.

(3.) According to the petitioner, though the FIR was lodged on 23/8/2018, till date charge sheet has not been filed in the criminal case and he has not been issued with any charge memo and therefore, he submitted a representation dtd. 18/2/2019 seeking revocation of suspension followed by another representation dtd. 9/8/2019. Aggrieved by the inordinate delay in prolonging the suspension, the petitioner has filed W.P.No.33966 of 2019 and vide order dtd. 6/12/2019, this Court directed the respondent to consider the representation of the petitioner dtd. 9/8/2019 and to pass orders within a time frame. In compliance of the order passed by this Court, the first respondent has passed the impugned order dtd. 14/1/2020 stating that suspension cannot be revoked on account of the Government Letter dtd. 26/4/2016. Challenging the same, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.