P. C. SAVITHIRI Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The punishment of dismissal from service issued vide G.O.(2D) No.239, Home (Courts-I) Department, dtd. 5/10/2020, is under challenge in the present writ petition.

(2.) The petitioner was appointed as Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Tamil Nadu Judicial Service on 12/2/2009. She was serving as District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate at Thenganikottai during the year 2015. A charge memorandum was issued under Rule 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules on 2/6/2017 framing 13 charges against the petitioner. They are:-

(3.) The petitioner submitted her explanations denying the charges. Not satisfied with the explanations, the Disciplinary Authority decided to conduct departmental enquiry. An Enquiry Officer was appointed. The Enquiry Officer conducted an enquiry by affording opportunity to the delinquent Officer. The petitioner participated in the process of enquiry and defended her case. She has submitted her written submissions also. The Enquiry Officer submitted his final enquiry report on 29/7/2019, holding that charge Nos.1 to 9 and 11 to 13 are proved and charge No.10 is not proved by the Presenting Officer. Enclosing the copy of the enquiry report, second show cause notice was issued to the writ petitioner, seeking her explanations/objections on the findings of the Enquiry Officer. The petitioner submitted her explanations on the findings of the Enquiry Officer on 17/3/2020.