THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION COMMISSIONER AND PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT AND ORS. Vs. M. SAMPATH AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BEING aggrieved by a common order, made in W.P(MD) Nos. 5961 to 5963 of 2011, dated 22.04.2014, quashing punishments impugned against the petitioners, in each of the above writ petitions, present writ appeals have been filed.

(2.) FACTS deduced from the material on record and the impugned judgment, are that the petitioners were serving as Agricultural Officers in 1982 and 1983 respectively. For the alleged irregularities, in not properly nurturing Coconut Saplings, procured in the year 1984 -85, which resulted in damage, the respondents/writ petitioners were proceeded departmentally, for the loss caused to the Government. After the abovesaid incident, during the year 1984 -85, individual charge memorandums were issued on 13.10.1998. All the respondents/writ petitioners submitted their reply. Thereafter, the enquiry officer held the charges, as proved, in the year 2011. Thus, for the alleged incident of the year 1984 -85, charges have been framed in 1998, after 13 years.

(3.) WHEN the enquiry officer submitted his report, holding the charges as proved, the disciplinary authority, namely, Commissioner of Agriculture, Chennai, who framed the charges, after going through the charges, evidence on record, findings recorded by the enquiry officer, further/additional representations submitted by the individuals, found that there were no substantial materials, against the respondents/writ petitioners and therefore, recommended to the Government, for absolving the respondents, of the charges, framed against them.