CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL JODHPUR BENCH, JODHPUR Original Application No.456/2016 Pronounced on : 11.02.2026 Reserved on : 18.11.2025 CORAM HON’BLE Mr. JUSTICE RAMESHWAR VYAS, MEMBER (J)

HON’BLE Dr. AMIT SAHAI, MEMBER (A)

Atta Mohammad Bhati S/o Shri Idul Mohammad, aged about 57 years, R/o Chimpa ka Mohalla, Nimbi Jodha Nagaur, District Nagaur (Working as Sub Postmaster at Ratau, Nagaur under Postal Department).

…..Applicant By Advocate : Mr. S.P. Singh Versus

1. Union of India, through the Secretary, Government of India, M/o Communication, Department of Post, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi. 2. The Chief Post Master General, Rajasthan Circle, Jaipur. 3. Postmaster General, Rajasthan Western Region, Jodhpur.

4. The Director of Postal Services, Western Region, Jodhpur. 5. Superintendent of Post Offices, Nagaur Division, Nagaur.

...... Respondents By Advocate: Mr. K.S. Yadav ORDER Per Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rameshwar Vyas, Member (J)

Being aggrieved by the order of the Disciplinary Authority dated 22.03.2013 (Annexure-A/3), whereby the applicant was imposed penalty of reduction in pay by two stages for one year, order of the Appellate Authority dated 04.11.2013 (Annexure-A/4) proposing to enhance the penalty imposed upon the applicant by the Disciplinary Authority and order dated 31.12.2013 (Annexure-A/2) whereby the Appellate Authority enhanced the penalty, as also the order dated 19.08.2015 (Annexure-A/1) passed by the Post Master General whereby he rejected the revision filed against the Appellate Authority’s order, the applicant has preferred this OA with a prayer to quash and set aside the above orders.

2. Facts of the case in brief are as under:-

2.1 Vide memorandum dated 24.10.2011 (Annexure-A/5) while initiating disciplinary proceedings under Rule 14 of CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, the applicant has been charged with the following charges:- While working on the post of Sub Postmaster at Ladnu Post Office on 07.11.2008, the applicant made payment by cheque maturity amount of Kisan Vikas Patra to depositors Badri Singh Rathore and Smt. Kamla Rathore but did not include in the amount the interest accrued beyond the period of maturity. An amount of Rs.1452/- as interest was alleged to be paid in cash, whereas he did not pay this amount to the depositors. Similar charges were framed with regard to payment made on 19.11.2008, 08.1.2008 and 13.01.2009 to depositors Jagannath, Deeepa, Manish Jakhar, Kailash Jat and Ashok Jat involving interest amount of Rs.520/-, 116/- and 698/-, respectively. It is alleged that the above amount of interest was misappropriated by the applicant by not paying the same to the depositors of Kishan Vikash Patra and National Saving Certificate.

2.2 The inquiry authority after conducting the inquiry found charges proved against the applicant vide inquiry report dated 10.01.2013 (Annexure-A/6). The copy of the inquiry report was supplied to the applicant for filing a representation within 15 days. The applicant filed a representation against the inquiry report before the Disciplinary Authority who after necessary hearing came to the conclusion that the applicant did not pay the amount of interest to the depositors. Though it was the stand of the applicant that he made payment by cash yet he failed to substantiate the fact of payment. While holding the applicant guilty of charges levelled against him, the Disciplinary Authority vide order dated 22.03.2013 (Annexure-A/3) imposed upon him the following penalty.

Recovery of Rs.2786/-, amount of interest which was not paid to the depositors and reduction of pay by two stages for one year.

2.3 Being aggrieved by the above order of the Disciplinary Authority, the applicant preferred an appeal on 08.05.2013, which was decided by the Appellate Authority vide order dated 31.12.2013 (Annexure-A/2) whereby the penalty of reduction of pay by two stages for one year was enhanced to reduction of pay by two stages for three years. It is pertinent to note that that before enhancing the penalty