Point of Law: sword of damocles cannot be kept hanging over the petitioner’s head over indefinite period. Even if the proceedings are to be stayed, they cannot be stayed ad infinitum or infinitely.

ORDER :

1. By way of present writ petition, while indirectly challenging the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the respondents vide notice dated 11.01.2021, the petitioner has claimed a relief that the proceedings in furtherance thereto be kept in abeyance until criminal proceedings pursuant to the FIR No.128/2020 culminates.

2. During the course of submission, Mr. Mathur, learned counsel for the petitioner, instead of harping upon his challenge to the very initiation of the disciplinary proceedings, confined his case to continuance of the proceedings, until the criminal case, which the petitioner is facing for the same delinquency, is finally decided.

3. The facts appropos the relief claimed are, that the petitioner, Constable was trapped red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, while accepting/taking an amount of Rs.5,000/- as bribe (as alleged by the prosecution) from one Bhag Singh.

4. Consequently, a case came to be registered by the Anti- Corruption Bureau, Jodhpur being Case No.128 dated 16.07.2020 for the offence under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

5. After completion of the investigation, a charge-sheet came to be filed in the competent Court, whereafter, the Superintendent of Police, Jodhpur (Rural), the disciplinary authority proceeded to launch a departmental inquiry against the petitioner by way of serving a notice dated 11.01.2021, along with memorandum of charges and statement of allegation.

6. The sole charge framed against the petitioner in the inquiry under challenge reads thus:-

^vki fnukad 15-07-2020 dks iqfyl Fkkuk cki esa inLFkkfir FksA iqfyl Fkkuk cki esa ifjoknh Jh jk/kkfd'ku iq= jk;flagjke tkfr vksM fuoklh jkojk iqfyl Fkkuk cki us ,d eqdnek ntZ djokdj crk;k fd ^^eSa Hkxflag iq= lksguflag jktiwr fuoklh Vsdjk ds V;qcosy ij dke djus x;k Fkk] ysfdu 15 fnu ckn esa eSaus V;qcosy ekfyd dks dke djus ls euk dj fn;kA blds 5 fnu ckn eSa ogk ij lkeku ysus ds fy;s x;k rks Hkxflag o mlds iq= rstflag] 'kEHkqflag] v.knflag lHkh us esjs lkFk [ksr esa ekjihV dhA ftlls esjs flj esa [kwu vk x;k o eSa csgks'k gks x;kA csgks'kh dh gkyr esa esjs dks vEckyky us xkMh esa cSBkdj cki yk;kA mDr lHkh us esjs dks V;qcosy ij tcjnLrh dke djkus ds fy;s ck/; fd;k o esjk ,d lksus dk yaqx fxj x;kA** oxsjk ij izdj.k la[;k 155@2020 /kkjk 143] 341] 323@34 Hkknl iqfyl Fkkuk cki esa ntZ gksdj vuqla/kku vki }kjk fd;k tk jgk FkkA vki }kjk nkSjkus vuqla/kku vizkFkhZ Hkxflag ls muds yM+ds dk uke tqeZ ls gVkus ds ,ot esa ikap gtkj :i;s fj'or dh ekax dhA ftl ij ifjoknh }kjk Hkz"Vkpkj fujks/kd C;wjks tks/kiqj esa vkids fo:) f'kdk;r dh xbZA ifjoknh }kjk izLrqr f'kdk;r ij fnukad 15-07-2020 dks vkids dCts ls Hkz"Vkpkj fujks/kd C;wjks] tks/kiqj dh Vhe }kjk Hkxflag mQZ Hkxokuflag ls fj'or jkf'k 5000@& :i;s ysrs gq, fj'or jkf'k vkids dCts ls cjken dj Hkz"Vkpkj fujks/kd C;wjksa tks/kiqj }kjk vkidks fxjrkj dj vkids fo:) izdj.k la[;k 128 fnukad 16-07-2020 /kkjk 7 Hkz"Vkpkj fuokj.k ¼la'kks/ku½ vf/kfu;e 2018 Fkkuk ,lhch] lhih,l] t;iqj esa ntZ fd;k tkdj can vuqla/kku ds vkids fo:) U;k;ky; esa vkjksi i= is'k fd;k x;k] blls lacaf/kr lekpkj fofHkUu lekpkj i=ksa esa izeq[krk ls izdkf'kr gqvk gSA bl izdkj vki }kjk iqfyl vkpj.k fu;eksa dk mYya?ku fd;k x;k] ftlls iqfyl foHkkx dh Noh /kwfey gqbZ gSaA vkidk mDr d`R; ?kksj ykijokgh] drZO;foeq[krk] LoSPNkpkfjrk] inh; dÙkZO;ksa ds nq:i;ksx] iqfyl vkpj.k fu;eksa ds mYya?ku ,oa vuq'kklughurk dk |kSrd gSA^^

7. Mr. Mathur, learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the inquiry in question is based upon the singular fact that the petitioner had been apprehended by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and argued that the respondent Department is not having any supportive material or witness who can depose or prove the allegation that the petitioner had received Rs.5,000/- as bribe from said Bhag Singh.

8. While maintaining that the disciplinary inquiry in question firstly cannot continue as the respondent – Department is having no material in relation to the delinquency or the offence allegedly committed by the pet