KARUNAKETAN GANGULY Vs. ALLAHABAD BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, Karunaketan, has hit upon the writ application for issuance of Mandamus and for other collateral reliefs which fielded amongst others the quashing of charge-sheet dated July 5, 1984, annexure-A. Thus, I begin :-

(2.) The petitioner while acting as Branch Manager, Dunlop Bridge, Allahabad Bank made advances, loans, overdrafts etc., with the approval of the authority between February 28, 1983 and May 21, 1984. Ultimately it turned to be a sore in his official career. Administrative functions of the said branch bore the dent as it was starving for the staff about which the respondents are in an inhospitable look. He did not receive feedback from the head office. The respondents charged him with misconduct for unwise and unauthorised acts of his contrary to Banking Rules, norms and procedures, namely Rules 3(1), 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) of the Allahabad Bank Officer Employees' (Conduct) Regn., 1976. The misconduct had left him writhing in agony.

(3.) Needless to repeat the unbecoming conduct of the petitioner, according to the charge-sheet tosses its head by the reason of flouting the banking principles and procedures of lending in regard to making of a pre-credit appraisal, ensuring post credit verification and follow-up action, the object being to safeguard the interest of the bank. The initiation of disciplinary proceedings was visited with illegalities as it offended fair hearing, natural justice and reasonableness. The above does not provide any avenue for the respondents to explore relief and the disciplinary proceedings, accordingly, is exploded.