CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA Vs. NIRANJAN SINHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) No one is present on behalf of the respondent. This Appeal under clause 10 of the Letters Patent is preferred by the respondent-Central Bank of India (hereinafter referred to as "the Bank") against the judgment and order dated 7th September, 2010 passed by learned single Judge in CWJC No. 13123 of 1996.

(2.) The respondent-writ petitioner approached this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution in above CWJC No. 13123 of 1996 to challenge the order of reduction in pay by four stages made by the disciplinary authority on 15th July, 1993, and confirmed by the appellate authority on 11th February, 1994.

(3.) On 9th June, 1991 a disciplinary proceeding was initiated against writ petitioner, the then Branch Manager, Teghra Branch of the Bank on four counts of financial irregularities. It was alleged that while functioning as the Branch Manager, during the period from September 1990 to January 1991, he allowed a current account holder one Bajrang Roller Flour Mills (Pvt.) Limited to withdraw certain amounts totaling to around rupees seventy five lakhs, without obtaining security, although the said account holder did not enjoy the cash credit/overdraft facility. The transactions were not entered in the register with a view to concealing the same. The allegations were denied by the petitioner. After due disciplinary proceeding, the enquiry officer opined that the charges levelled against the petitioner were proved. Pursuant to the said finding, the punishment of reduction in pay by four stages was imposed. The said order was confirmed by the appellate authority on 11 February, 1994. Therefore, the Petition.