CHAIRMAN ALIGARH GRAMIN BANK Vs. LATOORI SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) We have heard Sri S. N. Verma, Senior Advocate assisted by Sri Yashwant Verma for the appellant and Sri I.M. Tripathi. Advocate for the respondent.

(2.) This Special Appeal has been filed by the appellant against the judgment of the learned Single Judge dated 3.12.2002 passed in Writ Petition No. 48308 of 2002, Sri Latoori Singh v. Chairman, Aligarh Gramin Bank, allowing the writ petition in part.

(3.) Facts giving rise to this Special Appeal briefly stated are :- The respondent Latoori Singh is working as Officer Scale II in Aligarh Gramin Bank. A disciplinary enquiry was initiated by the bank against the respondent by issuing charge sheets dated 31.7.2002 and 9.8.2002, the Enquiry Officer was appointed by the disciplinary authority on 4.9.2002 in accordance with the Aligarh Gramin Bank (Officers and Employees) Service Regulations, 2000 with respect to charge sheet dated 31.7.2002. Another Enquiry Officer was appointed by the order dated 11.9.2002 in respect to charge sheet dated 9.8.2002. Enquiry Proceedings were held on 19th October, 2002 in which presenting officer on behalf of the Bank also appeared. The Enquiry Officer asked the respondent as to whether he wants to engage a defence representative which was replied in affirmative by the respondent. The respondent stated to the Enquiry Officer that he wants to engage a legal practitioner for his defence. The Enquiry Officer refused the prayer for engaging a legal practitioner and stated that the respondent can only bring any Officer or Employee of the Aligarh Gramin Bank as a defence representative. The aforesaid decision of the Enquiry Officer was objected by the petitioner but the Enquiry Officer reiterated his same decision on which the respondent stated that he wants to bring one Sri R.P. Singh of Central Bank of India as his defence representative. The Enquiry Officer stated that at his level only permission for engaging defence representative belonging to Aligarh Gramin Bank can be granted. The Enquiry Officer asked for fifteen days' time for searching an Employee or Officer of Aligarh Gramin Bank for being his defence representative. The enquiry was adjourned by the Enquiry Officer to 12th November, 2002.