R. RAJASEKARAN Vs. THE UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. S.Rajeetchandra. learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. S.Rupachandra Singh for the respondents no. 1 to 3 and Mr. N. Jotendro, learned counsel the respondent no.4.

(2.) The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking quashing of the enquiry pending against him. Various grounds have been raised by the petitioner in contending that the enquiry in the present state cannot continue. It has been contended, inter alia, that the statutory period for completion of the enquiry initiated against the petitioner under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 as provided under Section 11 (4) mandating completion of enquiry under Section 11(1) within a period of ninety days, has long been breached. The petitioner contends that the enquiry which was initiated in February 2015 has dragged on incomplete for more than a year, and having crossed the statutory limit cannot be legally permitted to continue and must be brought to an end. His other contentions are that because of the inordinate delay in concluding the enquiry, his promotional prospects have been also jeopardised. He also has alleged various other irregularities in the aforesaid enquiry apart from mala fide on the part of the authorities.

(3.) The writ petition has been vigorously resisted by the official as well as the private respondents. While the averments and allegations in the writ petition have been specifically denied by the respondents, the respondents have taken a common plea that the present writ petition is not maintainable before this High Court on the ground of lack of territorial jurisdiction.