PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK Vs. R.L. VAID

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PUNJAB National Bank has questioned the legality and propriety of the order passed by Special Judge, Chandigarh, dated March 5, 2003, dismissing the application filed by the petitioner claiming privilege of certain documents by the Bank. It has been claimed by the petitioner that the said documents are in the nature of confidential correspondence between the Punjab National Bank, Officers of the Vigilance Department and the CBI as well as the Central Vigilance Commissioner.

(2.) BRIEFLY stated facts of the case are that CBI had registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against R.L. Vaid alleging that while functioning as Regional Manager, Punjab National Bank, he had entered into a criminal conspiracy with V.K. Singla, the then Manager, Punjab National Bank, Sector 19 Branch, Chandigarh and Dr. A.K. Sinha, IAS, the then Secretary, Town and Country Planning Department, Government of Haryanna, Chandigarh during the year 1981-82 with a view to cheat the Punjab National Bank. He had dishonestly and fraudulently sanctioned a sum of Rs. 2.70 lacs to Rama Sinha, wife of Dr. A.K. Sinha, for construction of a building at Panchkula so that the premises may be rented out to Punjab National Bank at exorbitant rate of rent of Rs. 4985/- per month. Vide order dated July 6, 1999, an application filed by the accused was allowed by the Special Judge, Chandigarh, summoning the following documents :

(3.) THIS Court had dismissed the revision petition vide order dated July 11, 2003 by passing the following orders :