AREA MANAGER Vs. S.SUNDARAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Food Corporation of India has come up with the present Writ Petition challenging the order dated 04.11.2015 passed by the 2nd Respondent in Gratuity Appeal No.113 of 2015, confirming the order dated 17.12.2014 passed by the 3rd Respondent in G.A.No.56 of 2014.

(2.) According to the Food Corporation of India (hereinafter referred to as 'Management'), the 1st Respondent was employed in their Management and retired as Assistant General Manager (Quality Control). The Management initiated Disciplinary Proceedings against the 1st Respondent and issued Charge Sheet under Regulation 58 of Food Corporation of India (Staff) Regulations, 1971 and the same was served on him on 28.06.2013. Charges framed against the 1st Respondent/employee is that while he was working as Area Manager, Food Corporation of India, Cuddalore, a random physical verification of the food grains was conducted at T.V.Koil Depot by a squad from Head Quarters, New Delhi from 10.06.2013 to 12.06.2013 and it was found that there was shortage of bags containing food grains valued to the tune of Rs.91,96,140/-.

(3.) Consequent to the same, the 1st Respondent/employee was called upon to submit his explanation to the Charge Memo on the charges framed against him and he submitted his explanation. As the explanation was not satisfactory, an inquiry was held in terms of the FCI (Staff) Regulations, 1971 and the Inquiry Officer submitted his Report holding that the charges framed against the 1st Respondent/employee are proved on account of ineffective supervision over depot personnel and its operations, leading to misappropriation and thereby becoming responsible for causing huge loss to the Management to the tune of the said amount.