PANKAJESH Vs. CHAIRMAN APPELLATE AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present writ petition is filed by the petitioner challenging the order dtd. 7/9/2020 passed by the Disciplinary Authority whereby petitioner was dismissed and the order dtd. 15/6/2021 passed by the appellate authority whereby appeal of the petitioner against the punishment order was also rejected.

(2.) Facts of the case are that the petitioner was initially appointed as an Officer in Tulsi Gramin Bank (erstwhile Allahabad U.P. Gramin Bank and now Aryavart Bank since 1/4/2019) (hereinafter referred to as 'Bank') in the year 1983 and he was due to superannuate on 31/10/2018. While in service of the Bank, from 23/9/2010 till 10/1/2011, he worked in the capacity of Temporary Manager in Chakaundh Branch-Chitrakoot. On 11/1/2011, petitioner was posted as Permanent Manager in the same Branch till he was transferred on 20/7/2012. During his posting as Temporary Manager in the said Branch, some loans were sanctioned under a scheme sponsored by the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation set up by the Government of India under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

(3.) It is stated by the petitioner that as per the process prescribed, all the loans were recommended/approved by the Block Development Officer concerned and were also duly verified by the Bank and thereafter sanctioned. The beneficiaries of the said loans also purchased and received articles subjected to loans and recorded their satisfaction. The disbursement of loans was made as per the procedure prescribed by the Bank. The said loans were evaluated, sanctioned and disbursed and assets were created under the supervision of the Assistant Development Officer (Social Welfare), Pahari, Chitrakoot along with Sri Atmaram Gupta, who was the permanent officer posted in the Branch. The disbursement of loans was made as per the procedure and the said fact was duly reported by the petitioner to the competent authority by communications dtd. 17/2/2010, 30/3/2010 and 20/4/2010. The internal audit inspection of the Branch was also carried out by the Inspection Officer from 9/6/2010 to 14/6/2010. In the audit inspection report dtd. 15/6/2010, it was pointed out that disputed loans were sanctioned without approval of the Manager.