M.P. GUPTA Vs. HARYANA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is working as an Executive Engineer with the Haryana State Electricity Board. He has filed this petition with a two fold grievance. Firstly, the petitioner complains that he has been arbitrarily suspended by an order dated September 9, 1996. A copy of this order has been produced as Annexure P-4 with the writ petitioner. The petitioner further complains that the Board has arbitrarily declined to accept his request for voluntary retirement as contained in his letter dated January 10, 1997, a copy of which is at Annexure P-6 with this writ petition.

(2.) On behalf of the respondent, it has been pointed out that a charge sheet dated June 16, 1997, a copy of which has been produced as Annexure R-I with the written statement, has already been issued to the petitioner. He had been placed under suspension in contemplation of the disciplinary proceedings. Consequently, it has been pointed out that the Board does not wish to allow the petitioner to retire pending the departmental inquiry against him. It has been further stayed, during the course of hearing, that another charge sheet dated July 22, 1997, has also been issued to the petitioner.

(3.) We have seen the charge sheets, Some of the allegations against the petitioner are serious. In this situation, it is not surprising that the petitioner was placed under suspension. Equally, the action in refusing to accept his request for premature retirement was also not arbitrary. Resultantly, the petitioner's prayer for quashing the order of suspension and for the issue of a mandamus directing the respondents to accept his prayer for voluntary retirement cannot be accepted.