DASHARATH BAPURAOJI MANDLIK Vs. MAHARASHTRA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONERS in both these Petitions are challenging a common order passed by the respondent No.2 dated 4/4/2000 whereby Petitioners were placed under suspension with immediate effect since a decision had been taken to order CID inquiry pertaining to the charges levelled against them. Since the charges in both these Petitions are more or less identical, we propose to decide these two Petitions by this common judgment.

(2.) PETITIONERS are working in the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to for the sake of brevity as "MSEB") and were appointed in the Accounts Department. Petitioners were eventually working as Joint Chief Accounts Officers in Ways and Means Section.

(3.) ON 11/2/1999, a charge-sheet was issued by respondent No.2 to the Petitioners. Petitioners, thereafter, submitted their written reply to the charge-sheet and an inquiry was held and the Inquiry Officer submitted his report to the respondent No.2. On 26/5/1999, a show cause notice was issued calling upon them to show cause against the proposed punishment of reversion to the lower post for a period of three years. A reply was submitted and, in the explanation, it was pointed out that no loss was caused to the Board as M/s Datar Switchgear Ltd. had refunded the amount overdrawn on 2/11/1998 and had given further credit on 11/2/1999. However, the explanation given by the Petitioners was not accepted and on 29/6/1999, the Petitioners were reverted to the post of Joint Chief Accounts Officer for a period of two years and one year respectively treating the suspension from 6/2/1999 till the date of it's revocation as punishment. In pursuance of the said order, Petitioners' suspension was revoked and they were reinstated in the reverted post. Both the Petitioners joined as Chief Accounts Officer at different places and, thereafter, they have undergone the punishment which was imposed upon them.