JUDGMENT

(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records of the 2nd respondent relating to impugned charge memo in his proceeding in Na.Ka.1336/2021/A (2) dated 11.07.2022 and quash the same.)

The charge memo dated 11.07.2022, under Rule 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1955, alleging that the petitioner, while serving as a Senior Inspector / Supervisor had failed to take action against one Chellammal for having taken loans by submitting forged document, is put under challenge in the present writ petition.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the incident for which the charge memo was levelled relates to the year 2002, when the petitioner was not the Senior Inspector / Supervisor, since he had been in the post only between 25.10.2004 and 14.07.2006. He further submitted that the delay in initiating the departmental action has caused serious prejudice to the petitioner.

3. Per contra, the learned Additional Government Pleader representing the respondents herein submitted that in an inquiry conducted under Section 81 of the Tamil Nadu Co-operative So