SHAMBHU PRASAD Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner is aggrieved by Annexure-16 of the writ petition, by which he has been given punishment of censure and withholding of two increments with cumulative effect. The charges against the Petitioner is that he had given delayed payment with respect to one Subodh Kumar Prasad, Compounder working in Khagaria. It is further alleged that the Petitioner had made excess payment to the said person. Show cause notice was issued. Petitioner replied to the show cause placed materials before the Inquiry Officer indicating that the service book of Shri Subodh Kumar Prasad was not made available to him on 8.1.2002. Although, he has made several request for the service book so that the payments could be made within time. It has been stated in the show cause that after receipt of the service book, the Petitioner made recommendation for fixation of the pay of Shri Prasad on 6.3.2002.

(2.) Counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner cannot be held responsible if the concerned persons do not send the service book of Shri Prasad to the Petitioner. It is further submitted that second charge relates to excess payment. Referring to Memo No. 691 of 29.7.1995, whereby the Chief Medical Officer-cum-Civil Surgeon, pointed out that the rate has been fixed by the office concerned at Rs. 15.36 and as such the Petitioner only followed the direction issued by the higher authority, and therefore, it cannot be said that he was responsible for the excess payment.

(3.) Counsel for the Petitioner further submits that the Inquiry Report was not served upon the Petitioner and as such he does not have any ideas as to what were the considerations that weighed with Inquiry Officer or the recommendations made by the Inquiry Officer to the disciplinary authority.