The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for specific charges and fair enquiry proceedings in disciplinary cases.

JUDGMENT :

1. The entire disciplinary proceeding starting from the issuance of charge sheet dated 7th September, 2016, the enquiry report dated 9th January, 2017, the second show cause notice dated 14th February, 2017, the final order dated 7th April, 2017 passed by the competent authority whereby the substantive pay of the petitioner has been reduced by four stages for two years with effect of withholding the increments in the intervening period and postponement of future increment in terms of Rules 47(a)(c) read with Regulation 47(a)(b) of the Reserve Bank of India (Staff Regulations), 1948 and the order of the appellate authority dated 31st January, 2018 confirming the order of the disciplinary authority are under challenge in the instant writ petition.

The petitioner was appointed in the Reserve Bank of India under died-in- harness category on 1st. November 1988. While the petitioner was posted as the Assistant Manager, Department of Protocol and Security a show cause notice was issued on 23rd. August, 2016 which was received by him on 26th August, 2016 wherein the petitioner was advised to show cause as to why disciplinary proceedings will not be initiated against him in terms of the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India (Staff Regulations), 1948. The petitioner was to reply within seven days from the date of receipt of the notice. It was mentioned that if the reply was found to be not tenable then disciplinary proceedings would follow. The petitioner replied to the said show cause. As the reply was found to be not tenable a charge sheet was issued against the petitioner on September 7, 2016. The charges against the petitioner were set out in the said charge sheet.

It was reported that:

a. "You had shown indiscipline, misconduct and refusal to perform the duties allotted to you by the department.

b. Quarrelling with fellow colleagues in abusive language and threatening to drag them to court.

c. Misbehaving with lady employees and the lady summer intern of the department.

d. Refusing to work on the computer and not discharge the duties allotted to you except the work to entering letters in MDIS package." It was also reported that:

i. "Displaying your undergarments on your desk.

ii. Displaying objectionable pictures on your desk.

iii. In your reply dated August 16, 2016 you have used indecent and disparaging words against the lady employees of the department. As an officer of the Bank, you are not amiable and not amenable to discipline thereby failing to show courtesy and respect to seniors and fellow colleagues in your department. You had failed to show diligence and sincerity in the discharge of your duties thereby acting in a manner detrimental to the smooth functioning of the department." A list of documents and a list of witnesses were also forwarded with the charge sheet.

The documents that were forwarded to the petitioner contained the complaint note of the Director, Department of Economic and Policy Research, Reserve Bank of India, Kolkata Regional Office. In the said complaint it was mentioned that the petitioner had become a security threat to the staff and officers working in the department. He demonstrated highly objectionable act of perversion for which the lady staff feels extremely uncomfortable to work in the department. He displayed objectionable pictures on his desk. He changed his dress openly in the department. He threatened his fellow colleagues to drag them to court on the slightest pretext. He displayed his undergarments on his desk. He made baseless allegations against young summer lady intern who was working with the head of the department and assistant advisor. He engaged in shouting and quarrelling with the staff using filthy and abusive languages. He refused to work citing health problems. He was not available at the desk for long hours. On one occasion he left office without informing anybody and kept the keys of the cupboard locked in the desk. To trace the keys during the closing hours he was called ov