(1.) Heard Sri S.P. Singh, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Sri Virendra Misra, learned Counsel appearing for the opposite parties.
(2.) Under challenge in an order of dismissal of 31.12.2001, dismissing the petitioner from the post of Manager, Punjab National Bank, Rail Bazar Branch, Kanpur and the order dated 9.7.2002, passed by the appellate authority, rejecting the appeal submitted by the petitioner against the order of dismissal.
(3.) The learned Counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner was initially appointed as Clerk-cum-typist in New Bank of India in 1977 which was merged with Punjab National Bank in 1993. The petitioner was promoted as Officer Scale-11 in Punjab National Bank, and at the relevant time, he was working as Manager in Punjab National Bank Branch at U.P. Stock Exchange, Kanpur city. From the Stock Exchange Branch, he was transferred to Rail Bazar Branch in the city of Kanpur. In November, 2000, the petitioner was suspended vide order dated 24,11.2000 which was challenged by filing a Writ Petition No. 53275 of 2000, J.G. Puri v. Senior Regional Manager, Punjab National Bank, Kanpur, by the petitioner. This petition was disposed of by this Hon'ble Court on 13.2.2001 with a direction to the competent authority to complete the inquiry against the petitioner preferably within four months from the date of production of a certified copy of the Court's order, in accordance with law. The petitioner was served a charge-sheet dated 24.3.2001. The accusation against the petitioner was that he connived with various parties to sanction the overdraft limits against demat shares and unauthorized accommodated them involving other staff members in the process in violation of Bank's prescribed guidelines/procedures to pass on undue benefit to these parties, thereby defrauding and causing pecuniary loss to the Bank.