SUBODH KUMAR Vs. COAL INDIA LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In questing the legality and justifiability of the Memorandum of Charge dtd. 21/5/2021, the inquiry report issued under the memo dtd. 5/2/2022, the final order of punishment passed by the Disciplinary Authority on 10/5/2022, and the order of the Appellate Authority dtd. 30/8/2022, the present writ petition has been preferred. In addition, the petitioner prays for an order restraining the respondents from implementing the memorandum of charge, the final order of punishment, and the order of the Appellate Authority (in short, AA).

(2.) Prior to venturing to delve into the contentious issue raised in the writ petition, it would be prudent to outline the key facts that laid to filing of the present writ petition which are as follows:

(3.) Upon forming the opinion that the writ petition should be decided after the exchange of affidavits, a co-ordinate Bench of this Hon'ble Court, by order dtd. 13/9/2023, directed the respondent to file an affidavit-in-opposition. However, the respondent failed to file the affidavit-in-opposition within the time stipulated in the said order.