RAMESH KAURA Vs. PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner, who is a Bank employee and is being proceeded against for disciplinary action, has prayed for intervention with the enquiry while it is in progress on the ground that his rights to defend himself properly, is being prejudiced.

(2.) A charge sheet dated 21.4.2010 is issued to the Petitioner, containing various allegations in regard to his conduct for not carrying out pre-sanctioned appraisal of loan before recommending credit facilities in favour of various parties. The Petitioner is also accused of not keeping effective control over the loan documents and had debited various demand loan accounts unauthorized. He is also accused of misusing his official position for getting sanction of housing loan in the names of his wife and son and for having engaged himself in business in violation of the Bank guidelines.

(3.) Enquiry Officer has been appointed, who had asked the Petitioner to verify the documents. The Petitioner instead prayed for time till his defense assistance is available. The proceedings of the enquiry annexed with the petition (Annexure P-4) would show that the Petitioner admitted receipt of one set of management's documents and requested for time for verification. The enquiry proceedings were accordingly adjourned to 19.9.2010 i.e. for 9 days. In fact, these proceedings were held on 10.9.2010, having been adjourned on 28.8.2010, on which date the Petitioner had sought time to arrange defense assistance. The Petitioner then approached the Disciplinary Authority on 14.9.2010 for providing him the services of defense assistance. He was informed through Setter dated 20.9.2010 that he may take the assistance of any other employee, who is not having two disciplinary cases pending on him. The Petitioner had also made a grievance that the documents supplied to him contained some additional documents, which were not part and parcel of the list of documents supplied along with the charge sheet.