SRI BAMADEV DAS Vs. CHAIRMAN-CUM-DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ appeal is directed against the judgment dtd. 22/8/2014, passed by the learned Single Judge, dismissing the W.P.(C) No.2612 of 2002 filed by the present Appellant, challenging the order of the Board of Directors-cum-Appellate Authority (AA), Dhenkanal Gramya Bank, affirming the finding of the Enquiry Officer (EO) that the charges against the Appellant in the Disciplinary Enquiry stood proved and awarding the punishment of reinstatement in service with cut in the increment, fitting him in the initial stage of pay scale and treating the suspension period as not on duty.

(2.) This Court has heard the submissions of Mr. Asok Mohanty, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Appellant and Mr. S.C. Samantaray, learned counsel appearing for the Respondent- Bank.

(3.) The background facts are that the Appellant was appointed in 1982 as a Scale-1 Officer in the Dhenkanal Gramya Bank (Bank), (at present the Odisha Gramya Bank after amalgamation). The charge against the Appellant framed against him on 29/10/1998 was that while serving as Manager at Indipur Branch, he had deliberately accepted pledge of spurious gold ornaments and granted loan to an non-existent person and further that he had given a loan of Rs.10,000.00 to one Sri Nirakar Prusty, the son of the Jewel Appraiser and compelled him to give recovery of Rs.5,000.00 from the proceeds of the loan to the jewel loan in the name of one Sri Rama Sahoo. The Appellant had written off Rs.4,184.00 causing a financial loss to the Bank.