BISHAMBER DASS KAYAT Vs. UNION BANK OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, a Manager in the service of the Union Bank of India, was subjected to compulsory retirement from service, vide order dated 09.04.2014 (Annexure P-4) passed by the Chief Manager, Nodal Regional Office, Chandigarh, the Disciplinary Authority, in exercise of power under Regulation 4(h) of the Union Bank of India Officer Employees' (Discipline and Appeal) Regulations, 1976 (hereinafter, 'the Regulations of 1976'). The same was confirmed in appeal, vide order dated 25.09.2014 (Annexure P-6) passed by the Appellate Authority, viz., the Deputy General Manager (P) of the Bank, and thereafter in review, vide order dated 01.04.2015 (Annexure P-8) passed by the Reviewing Authority, viz., the General Manager (P&HR) of the Bank.

(2.) The petitioner assails the aforestated orders and seeks a direction to the Bank to reinstate him in service along with all consequential benefits.

(3.) The petitioner entered the service of the Bank as a Clerk-cum-Cashier on 01.05.1989. He was promoted as an Officer in Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I) in May, 2005, and as a Manager in Middle Management Grade Scale-II (MMGS-II) in April, 2009. Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him under charge-sheet dated 30.07.2013 (Annexure P-l) on the ground that he had failed to discharge his duties with utmost honesty and integrity; utmost devotion and diligence; that he had failed to take all possible steps to ensure and protect the interest of the bank; and had acted otherwise than in his best judgment in the performance of official duties. The charge-sheet recorded that the memoranda dated 17.12.2012 and 17.01.2013 issued to the petitioner would form part of the statement of allegations. The list of documents and the list of witnesses proposed to be pressed into service for substantiating the charges were appended therewith.