S. B. SINHA, J.

( 1 ) LEAVE granted.

( 2 ) WHETHER pendency of a criminal case by itself would be a sufficient ground for stay of the departmental proceedings is the principal question which arises for our consideration in this case.

( 3 ) THE basic fact of the matter is not in dispute.

( 4 ) RESPONDENTS 1 to 4 herein are the office bearers of the All India indian Overseas Bank SC/st Employees' Welfare Association. Indisputably another association was also operating in the establishment of the appellant known as All India Indian Overseas bank Employees' Union of which respondent No. 5 is the President. Registration of similar names gave rise to a dispute between the parties.

( 5 ) INDISPUTABLY a first information report was lodged on 27th january, 2005 with the "thousand Lights Police Station, Chennai" alleging that L. Balasubramanian, Respondent No. 5, herein was assaulted on 27th January, 2005 at about 12. 35 p. m. within the bank premises by Respondents Nos. 1 to 4 as well as by Mr. P. Rajalingam, the Deputy Chief Officer working in the Regional Office of the appellant-bank. All the respondents are indisputably employees of the bank. Their designations are as under :-

(a) R