BALJEET SINGH Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner - Baljeet Singh, who has retired as District and Sessions Judge from Haryana Superior Judicial Service Cadre, has filed the instant petition praying for setting aside the impugned order dtd. 16/1/2019 (Annexure P-9), whereby minor penalty of record able warning to be careful in future has been imposed upon the petitioner by the High Court, Chandigarh.

(2.) It is the contention of learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of petitioner that the Vigilance / Disciplinary Committee in its meeting dtd. 3/5/2017 (Annexure P-5), after perusing the complaint dtd. 24/3/2015 (Annexure P-2); comments of petitioner dtd. 12/7/2016(Annexure P-4); and request of complainant dtd. 21/3/2017, only recommended that "the petitioner be advised to be careful in future". However, vide impugned order dtd. 16/1/2019 (P-9), a minor penalty under Rule 4 (a) of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 2016 has been imposed by the Full Court, which has caused irreparable damage to the twenty-nine (29) years of unblemished service career of petitioner as a Judicial Officer, especially jeopardizing his future prospects seeking re-employment in any other service.

(3.) We have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and scrutinized the paper-book.