CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL CUTTACK BENCH OA No. 190 OF 2024 Reserved on :06.01.2026 Pronounced on :07.01.2026 Coram : Hon’ble Mr. Sudhi Ranjan Mishra, Member (J)

Hon’ble Mr. Pramod Kumar Das, Member (A)

1. Smt. Anupama Samantaray, aged about 43 years, W/o Balaram Pradhan, GDS/BPM (Now under put off duty), Jagannath Prasad BO under Khandapada SO, resident of Jagannath Prasad, Via Khandapada, Dist Nayagrah – 752069.

……Applicant VERSUS

1. Union of India represented through Director General (Post), Dak Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi – 110001.

2. Chief Post Master General, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751001, Dist Khurda.

3. Superintendent of Posts, Nayaghar Division, At/PO Nayaghar Town/Dist Nayaghar – 752069.

4. Assistant Post Master General, Office of the Chief Post Master General, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751001, Dist Khurda.

5. Director of Postal Services (HQ), Office of the Chief Post Master General, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751001, Dist Khurda.

……Respondents For the applicant : Mr. N R Routray, counsel For the respondents: Mr. R S Patnaik, counsel O R D E R Hon’ble Mr.Sudhi Ranjan Mishra, J.M.

The applicant challenging the order dated 16.01.2024 passed by Respondent No. 3 rejecting her claim for grant of ex- gratia/put off duty allowance has filed this OA praying for following reliefs:

a) To quash the order dtd. 16.01.2024 under Ann. A/2.

b) And to direct the respondents to pay ex-gratia/put off duty allowances from the month of September, 2023.

c) And direct the respondents to pay the arrear ex-gratia/

put off duty allowances from the month of September

2023 to till the date of actual payment.

d) And pass any other order as this Hon’ble Tribunal deems fit and proper in the interest of justice.

2. The brief facts of the case as inter alia averred by the applicant in the OA is that she was placed under put off duty w.e.f. 09.09.2023 vide letter dated 06.09.2023. It is submitted that no put off duty allowances has been granted to her and then she submitted representation dated 29.12.2023 ventilating her grievance and pointing out error of the departmental authorities and fixing the responsibility on her. She had further requested to investigate the matter and fix the responsibility on the authorities resp3o nsible and reinstate her in duty along with release of TRCA. It is submitted that even though she had addressed the representation to Director of Postal Services and copy addressed to Respondent No. 3, Respondent No. vide letter dated 16.01.2024 disposed of the same without redressing her grievance as because allegations have been made against the officials of his office. It is submitted that on 27.09.2023 she had submitted representation no. 2 ventilating her grievance. It is submitted that Respondent No. 4 had disposed of the said representation vide letter dated 09.01.2024 stating that “if you have any further grievance the same should be submitted through divisional head of Nayagarh Division”. It is submitted that since 10.09.2023 the applicant is not going to the office but assisting the customers to redress their grievance by the help of Itamati SO. It is submitted that for the fault of SO, she has been penalized in paying interest for the delayed action and without any objection accepted the same with fear of any action. It is submitted that she submitted representation dated

27.03.2024. Hence the OA.

3. The respondents have filed coun4te r inter alia averring that applicant had misappropriated an amount of Rs. 1000/- while working as GDSBPM, Jagannath Prasad BO on 01.04.2016. It is submitted that she was also involved in dereliction of duty and during visit of Asst. Superintendent of Post Offices (ASP), Nayagarh Division to her BO on 02.05.2023 several irregularities like coming to officer with her husband at 10.30 am and no office records being available and her husband threatening to file a case of harassment. It is submitted that during visit of Inspector of Posts Nayagarh East Sub Divsiion to her BO on 02.09.20