JUDGMENT

C. Hari Shankar, J. - Disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner, who was working as Chief Manager at the South Extension Branch of the Respondent Bank ("the Bank" hereinafter), were initiated vide charge sheet dated 11th December, 2013 and an Addendum Memorandum dated 21st March, 2014. These proceeded to an inquiry report dated 7th January, 2015 and culminated in an order dated 27th March, 2015 by the Disciplinary Authority("DA") whereby the petitioner was dismissed from service. The Petitioner's appeal against this order, and revision therefrom, were dismissed vide orders dated 10th February, 2016 and 7th January, 2017 respectively.

2. The petitioner prays that the Inquiry Report dated 7th January, 2015, order dated 27th March, 2015, order dated 10th February, 2016 and order dated 7th January, 2017 be quashed and set aside. Consequently, the petitioner prays for a writ of mandamus directing reinstatement of the petitioner in service with consequential benefits along with arrears and interest @18% per annum.

3. Alternatively, it is prayed that the respondents be directed to impose any other suitable penalty apart from dismissal from service.

Facts

4. The petitioner was appointed to the post of Probationary Officer at the Bank in 1984 and, in the month of June 2011, came to be posted as Chief Manager at the South Extension branch of Bank.

5. On 27th September, 2013, the petitioner was served a Memorandum by the Zonal manager, Zonal office alleging acts of omission and commission committed by him while discharging his duties at the South Extension branch and at the Khan Market branch of the Bank, to which the petitioner replied vide letter dated 14th October 2013.

6. Vide letter dated 22nd October, 2013, the petitioner was informed that his reply was not satisfactory and that disciplinary action was initiated against him. Further, vide Memo dated 26th October, 2013, the petitioner was placed under suspension, followed by the charge sheet dated 11th December, 2013 issued by the Senior Regional Manager acting as the DA.

7. The charge-sheet proposed to hold a departmental enquiry against the petitioner in regard to alleged acts of misconduct committed by him as set out in 17 Articles of Charge. The petitioner was directed to submit his written statement of defence within seven days of the receipt of the charge-sheet.

8. In continuation of the aforementioned charge-sheet dated 11th December, 2013 (supra), an Addendum dated 21st March 2014 was also issued to the petitioner wherein 10 additional charges were added to the existing Articles of Charge. The petitioner was directed to submit a written statement of defence within 7 days of the receipt of this Addendum.

9. Thereafter, vide orders dated 29th March, 2014, the Inquiry Authority ("IA") and the Presenting Officer ("PO") were appointed.

10. Inquiry proceedings against the petitioner commenced on 6th May, 2014, and were concluded on 25th November, 2014. Written briefs were submitted by the PO on 10th December, 2014 and the petitioner on 11th December, 2014, culminating in an Inquiry Report dated 7th January, 2015.

11. Out of the 17 charges which formed part of the Charge-sheet dated 11th December, 2013 (supra), the IA had held charges 1, 3, 6, 9 to 13 and 15 as proved and Charges 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, 16 and 17 as not proved, and out of the 10 charges which constituted part of the Addendum to Memorandum dated 21st March, 2014 (supra), three charges were held to be proved against the Petitioner.

12. The Senior Regional Manager of the Bank, as DA, on 13/19th January, 2015, addressed