CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL AHMEDABAD BENCH Dated this 05^th day of December, 2025 Reserved On: 02.09.2025 Pronounced On:05.12.2025 CORAM:

Hon’ble Shri Jayesh V Bhairavia, Member (J)

Hon’ble Dr. Hukum Singh Meena, Member (A)

1. Shri Muneshkumar Meena, C/O – Shri Bijendra Singh, B/H SP Office, Alirajpur, Madhyapradesh - 457887 .....Applicant (Party in Person)

Versus

1. The General Manager, Western Railway, Opp. Church gate station Vithaldas Thackersey Marg, Churchgate, Mumbai Maharashtra – 400020.

2. The Principal Chief Signal and Telecom Engineer, Church Gate Station Building, 5^th Floor, Maharshi Kharve Marg, Opp. Head Office, WR, Churchgate – 400020.

3. The Divisional Railway Manager, Vadodara Rail Divisional Office, Santosh Wadi Road, Pratap nagar, Danteshwar, Vadodara, Gujarat – 390004.

4. The Senior Divisional Signal Telecom Engineer/Co./Brc, Drm Office, Annex Building 2^nd Floor, Pratapnagar –

Danteshwar Santosh Wadi Road, Vadodara, Gujarat – 390004.

5. Senior Section Engineer/ Signal/ Brc – 1, Near Pandya Bridge Vadodara, Gujarat – 390002.

6. Senior Section Engineer/ Signal/ Bharuch, I, Railway Colony, Railway Godi Road, Bharuch, Gujarat – 392001.

7. Senior Section Engineer / Signal / Pratap nagar, Near Pratap Nagar Railway Station, Danteshwar, Vadodara, Gujarat – 390004.

………………....Respondents (By Advocate: Ms. R.R. Patel)

O R D E R

Per : Hon’ble Dr.Hukum Singh Meena, Member (A)

1. In the instant OA, the applicant being aggrieved with Speaking Order No. E/308/8/8/01/21 dated 22.07.2021 (Annexure A/1) whereby the penalty of stoppage of six sets of Privilege Passes and eight sets of PTO as when due, pursuant to SF/11 Charge Sheet dated 11.06.2021 has filed the present OA under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 seeking following reliefs:-

“VIII. RELIEFS SOUGHT/ prayed for:

The applicant, therefore prays as under.

(a) That the Hon’ble Tribunal be pleased to allow the petition.

(b) That the Hon’ble Tribunal further be pleased to quash and set aside Ex-Facie, illegal, arbitrary, unjust and unconstitutional attitude of the Respondent regarding harassment and victimization to the applicant being S.T. employee and regarding speaking order of notice of punishment that “Stoppage of six sets of privilege passes and eight sets of PTO as and when due”

(c) In light of the above, grounds, I seek the following reliefs from this Hon’ble Tribunal:

(i). Notice of the punishment imposed upon Applicant by the Respondent No.4 (ii). An opportunity to be heard before this Hon’ble Tribunal to present my case and challenge the imposition of the punishment. (iii). Any other relief deemed fit and proper by this Hon’ble Tribunal in the interest of justice.”

2. The facts of the case in brief as submitted by the applicant are as follows:-

2.1 That he is the permanent employee of the Respondent No.7 serving as ESM-III in the Grade Pay of Rs. 1900/- in the Office of Sr.DSTE/Co./BRC and while he was serving on the said post, the Divisional Office, Vadodara vide speaking Order No. E/308/8/8/01/21 dated 22.07.2021 awarded penalty of stoppage of six sets of Privilege Passes and eight sets of PTO as and when due, pursuant to SF/11 charge sheet dated 11.06.2021.

2.2 The applicant further submitted that the respondents out of malice issued an illegal warning letter no. SG/DAR/Conf on 24.05.2021 wherein it was stated that the post of ESM III is a responsible post and it is an offence to sleep during the duty hour and if he is found sleeping again in future during duty hour a Disciplinary Action will be taken (Annexure A/3 refer).

2.3 After issuance of warning letter, the respondents issued an illegal SF/11 Charge Sheet No. E/308/8/2/01/21 dated 11.06.2021 and pasted it on the wall of the duty room. The applicant contented that he was not given a copy of the aforementioned charge sheet.

2.4 Thereafter, the respondent no. 3 issued Notice of Imposition of a Penalty (N.I.P) under Rule 6 of the Railway Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1968 vide Letter No. E/308/2/0