B. ANANDAN Vs. PRESIDING OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Anandan was a Sub-Staff in Indian Bank, Villupuram Branch and he was issued with a show cause notice dated 26.7.1976, in which it is alleged that on 1.7.1976, he had drawn a pay order for Rs.5,000.00 from the Savings Bank account of one R.Subramanian favouring one V.Arumugam by forging the signature of the account holder R.Subramanian. Thereafter, it is further alleged that he handed over the pay order to his brother B.Sanjeevi, who after endorsing on the reverse of the pay order as V.Arumugam, received cash payment. In response to the show cause notice, he sent reply dated 9.10.1976, denying the allegations made in the show cause notice.

(2.) It appears that simultaneously, on the complaint given by the Indian Bank, the Inspector of Police, Villupuram Police Station registered a case in Crime No.1459 of 1976 for the offences under sections 468 and 420 Penal Code against Anandan. After completing the investigation in Crime No.1459 of 1976, the Police filed a charge sheet in C.C.No.349 of 1976 before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Villupuram against Anandan for the aforesaid offences.

(3.) During the pendency of the criminal proceedings, the Management issued a charge memo dated 18.12.1978, reappraising the allegations mentioned in the show cause notice dated 26.7.1976. Though an enquiry officer was appointed as early as on 18.12.1978, for nearly two years, the Indian Bank did not conduct any enquiry.