✦ High Court of India · 19 Jul 2024

High Court · 2024

Case Details High Court of India · 19 Jul 2024

Court

High Court of India

Decided

19 Jul 2024

Bench

Not available

Length

1,177 words

Acts & Sections

Constitution of India

W.P.No.19052 of 2024IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 19.07.2024CORAM:THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYANW.P.No.19052 of 2024and W.M.P.No.20894 of 2024P.Ramesh...Petitioner -Vs-1. State of Tamil Nadu, represented by its Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment Department, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009.2. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowment Department, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034. ...RespondentsPrayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records with regard to continued suspension vide G.O.(Ms.).No.250 dated 16.10.2023 of Tourism, Culture and Religious Department passed by first respondent and quash the same and consequently directing the respondents to reinstate the petitioner into the service with all consequential benefits thereon.For Petitioner : Mr.R.Srinivasa RaoFor Respondents : Mr.S.Ravichandran Additional Government Pleader ORDERPage 1 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.19052 of 2024This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the order passed by the first respondent, dated 16.10.2023, thereby rejected the request made by the petitioner for revocation of his order of suspension.2. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record. 3. The petitioner was recruited to the post of Executive Officer (Grade I) and joined in the second respondent. Thereafter, he was promoted to the post of Assistant Commissioner. While being so, pursuant to the registration of FIR in Crime No.2/AC/2022 on the file of the Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti Corruption Department, for the offence punishable under Section 7(a) of Prevention of Corruption Act, he was arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Therefore, the petitioner was deemed to be suspended by an order dated 27.09.2022. Thereafter, the petitioner was also served with a charge memo dated 02.02.2024 consisting of six charges as follows:- “Fw;wr;rhl;L vz; 1jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) 19/05/2022 Kjy; 27/09/2022 tiu ehkf;fy; cjtp Mizauhfg; gzpg[upe;j nghJ ehkf;fy; khtl;lk;. g[Jbfhk;ig. mUs;kpF bguparhkp jpUf;nfhapypy; g{i$g;gzpia bjhlu;e;J bra;a mDkjpg;gjw;fhf nkw;fz;l jpUf;nfhapy; g{rhupfsplk; Page 2 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.19052 of 2024U:/21.000/- ifa{l;L nfl;ljd; K:yk; jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) cau; mYtyu; vd;w jdJ gjtpapd; ek;gfj;jd;ikapypUe;J jtwpa[s;shu;/ Fw;wr;rhl;L vz; 2jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) ehkf;fy; khtl;lk;. g[Jbfhk;ig. mUs;kpF bguparhkp jpUf;nfhapypy; g{i$g;gzpia bjhlu;e;J bra;a mDkjpg;gjw;fhf nkw;fz;l jpUf;nfhapy; g{rhupfs; mspf;Fk; ifa{l;Lg;gzj;jpid bgw;wspf;FkhW ehkf;fy; khtl;lk;. kpd;dhk;gs;sp. mUs;kpF iedhkiy tujuh$g;bgUkhs; jpUf;nfhapy;. bray; mYtyuhfg; gzpg[upe;j jpU/kh/yl;Rkpfhe;jd; epiy?3 bray; mYtyUf;F jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) cj;jutpl;ljd; ngupy;. jpU/kh/yl;Rkpfhe;jd; epiy?3 bray; mYtyu; nkw;fz;l jpUf;nfhapypy; g{i$ bra;J tUk; jpUthsu;fs;/gp/mz;zhJiu. V/uF kw;Wk; jpUkjp/yl;Rkp (kUkfd; md;guR rhu;ghf) Mfpanahuhy; mspf;fg;gl;l U:/21.000-? gzj;jpid jpU/gp/mz;zhJiu vd;gtuplkpUe;J bgw;wnghJ CHy;jLg;g[ kw;Wk; fz;fhzpg;g[j;Jiwahy; 27/09/2022 ifJ bra;ag;gl;ljd; K:yk; bghJkf;fs; kj;jpapy; Jiwf;F mtg;bgau; Vw;gLj;jpa[s;shu;/ Fw;wr;rhl;L vz; 3jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) 19/05/2022 Kjy; 27/09/2022 tiu ehkf;fy; cjtp Mizauhfg; gzpg[upe;j nghJ Fw;wr;rhl;L vz;/1 kw;Wk; 2y; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;s epfH;t[fSf;fhf jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) CHy; jLg;g[j;Jiwahy; ifJ bra;ag;gl;lijj; bjhlu;e;J md;dhupd; FoapUg;gpy; fhty; Jiwapduhy; nrhjid nkw;bfhs;sg;gl;lnghJ fzf;fpy; bfhz;L tug;glhj U:/4.50.000-? fhty; Jiwapduhy; ifg;gw;wg;gl;Ls;sJ/ ,Jbjhlu;ghf md;dhuhy; nghjpa Mtz';fs; fhty; Page 3 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.19052 of 2024Jiwapy; mspf;fg;gltpy;iy/ vdnt. md;dhuhy; mspf;fg;gl;l tpsf;f';fs; fhty; Jiwahy; Vw;Wf;bfhs;sg;gltpy;iy/,t;thW fzf;fpy; bfhz;L tug;glhj U:/4.50.000-? jkJ tPl;oy; itj;jpUe;jjd; K:yKk; nkw;fz;lthW bjhif itj;jpUe;jjw;F nghjpa Mtz';fis fhty; Jiwaplk; mspf;f ,ayhj epiyapYk; jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) cau; mYtyu; vd;w jFjpf;F Vw;wjhf ,y;yhj bray;fis bra;Js;shu;/Fw;wr;rhl;L vz; 4jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) 19/05/2022 Kjy; 27/09/2022 tiu ehkf;fy; cjtp Mizauhfg; gzpg[upe;j nghJ 20/07/2022 Kjy; ehkf;fy; cjtp Mizau; mYtyfj;jpw;F tUif g[upe;jjw;F tUif gjpntl;oy; ifbahg;gkplhjjd; K:yk; jdJ flikapypUe;J jtwpa[s;shu;/Fw;wr;rhl;L vz; 5jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) 19/05/2022 Kjy; 27/09/2022 tiu ehkf;fy; cjtp Mizauhfg; gzpg[upe;j nghJ 06-2022 kw;Wk; 07-2022 Mfpa khj';fSf;fhd jdJ ehl;Fwpg;gpid cau; mYtyu;fSf;F mspf;fhjjd; K:yk; jdJ flikapypUe;J jtwpa[s;shu;/Fw;wr;rhl;L vz; 6nkw;fz;l 1 Kjy; 5 tiu cs;s Fw;wr;rhl;Lfspd; jd;ik. jpU/g/unkc;&. cjtp Mizau; (j/g/eP) cau; mYtyu; vd;w jdJ gjtpapy; KG ek;gfj; jd;ik kw;Wk; flikg;gw;W (Integrity and Devotion to Duties) Mfpatw;wpw;Fg; g[wk;ghft[k;. jdJ flikfs; kw;Wk; bghWg;g[fis myl;rpak; bra;J mjpypUe;J jtwpa[k; (Deriliction of Duties and Responsibilities) xU cau; mYtyu; vd;w jFjpf;F Vw;wjhf ,y;yhj bray;fis bra;Jk; (unbecoming of a member of service) jkpH;ehL muRg; gzpahsu; elj;ij tpjp 20I kPwp bray;gl;Ls;shu;/”Page 4 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.19052 of 20244. Thereafter, the petitioner made a representation to the first respondent for revocation of his suspension. It was not considered and as such, the petitioner approached this Court in W.P.No.5850 of 2022. This Court, by an order dated 27.02.2022 directed the respondents to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner for revocation of the suspension order in view of the instructions issued by the Government in G.O.(Ms).No.81 dated 04.08.2022. As directed by this Court, the first respondent, after considering the facts and circumstances of the case, rejected the request made by the petitioner.5. It is relevant of extract the portion of G.O.Ms.No.81 dated 04.08.2022 as follows:-“(ix) The time limits mentioned above will not be applicable to cases of Government Servants against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated. However, while sanctioning prosecution in such a criminal case, an examination similar to the one mentioned in item (viii) above shall be made by the competent authority.(x) If, on examination of the case under items (vi), (viii) or (ix) above, continued suspension is considered not necessary, the suspension may be revoked in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 17(e)(6) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules or under Rule 3(e)(5) of the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1955, as the case may be. (xi) in cases where the charge in the criminal case Page 5 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.19052 of 2024involves complicated questions of law and fact and the disciplinary authority is not in a position to finalize the departmental disciplinary proceeding and if the criminal case is based on the vigilance report and is pending before the court of law for which no reasons are explained explicitly, the authority competent may take a decision by taking up review of suspension and post the Government Servant in a non-sensitive place in consultation with the appropriate investigating authority / Vigilance Commission on case to case basis in view of the reason that prolonged suspension and paying subsistence allowance for a long period without extracting work is not at all acceptable. Such revocation of suspension can be made based on the facts of each case and after noticing the reason for the delay in serving the memorandam of charges/charge sheet. The decision of the Hon'ble High Court of Madras in P.Kannan case, given in para 5 above, shall be taken into account.”6. It is seen that the petitioner received bribe from the priests. Considering the gravity of the offences committed by the petitioner and also pendency of charge memo, the first respondent had rightly rejected the request made by the petitioner and this Court finds no infirmity or illegality in the order passed by the first respondent and the writ petition is devoid of merits and is liable to be dismissed. 7. Accordingly, this writ petition stands dismissed. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs. 19.07.2024Internet: YesIndex : Yes/NoPage 6 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.19052 of 2024Neutral Citation: Yes/NoSpeaking/Non Speaking ordermnTo1. The Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment Department, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009.2. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowment Department, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034.Page 7 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.19052 of 2024G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J,mnW.P.No.19052 of 202419.07.2024Page 8 of 8

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