JUDGMENT

S.B. SINHA, J.- WHETHER A CLASS I OFFICER OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT (HARYANA) DEPUTED TO WORK AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF A COOPERATIVE SOCIETY IS ENTITLED TO PROTECTION UNDER SECTION 197 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IS IN QUESTION IN THIS APPEAL WHICH ARISES OUT OF A JUDGMENT AND ORDER DATED 14-7 - 2000 PASSED BY THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH.

2. THE FACT OF THE MATTER, SHORN OF ALL UNNECESSARY DETAILS, IS AS UNDER:

THE RESPONDENT HEREIN WAS WORKING AS LAND VALUATION OFFICER UNDER ONE DALIP SINGH, MANAGER, PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL LAND DEVELOPMENT BANK, DABWALI, A BRANCH OFFICE OF THE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY WHEREIN THE APPELLANT WAS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR.

3. A VETERINARY DOCTOR V.K. MITTAL WAS ARRESTED BY THE VIGILANCE BUREAU ON OR ABOUT 29-3-1995, ALLEGEDLY WHILE ACCEPTING ILLEGAL GRATIFICATION OF RS 700 FROM A FARMER. THE SAID DOCTOR MADE AN ALLEGATION THAT OUT OF THE SAID AMOUNT OF RS 700, A SUM OF RS 400 WAS TO BE PAID TO THE MANAGER. DALIP SINGH, ON THE BASIS OF THE SAID STATEMENT, WAS ARRESTED. HE WAS LATER ON, HOWEVER, ACQUITTED.

4. THE DISTRICT MANAGER, SIRSA, IN CHARGE OF THE CIRCLE, BY A LETTER DATED 12-4-1995 BROUGHT TO THE APPELLANTS NOTICE THAT A REL