NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 3176 of 2010 Ram Ratan Tandey S/o Ram Bhajan Tandey, Aged about 45 years, R/o. Village And Post Ukhar, Block Sarangarh, Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh State ... Petitioner versus

1 - State of C.G. Through: Secretary, Department of Women & Child Welfare, Govt. of CG DKS Bhawan, Raipur. CG State.

2- Director, Women & Child Welfare Directorate, Raipur. CG State.

3- District Collector, Jashpur, Jashpur Dist, CG State

4- Project Officer, Child Development Project, Jashpur, Jashpur Dist, CG State.

---- Respondents (Cause title taken from Case Information System)

For Petitioner : Mr. T.K. Tiwari, Advocate For Respondents/State : Mr. Vinod Kumar Tekam, Govt. Advocate Hon'ble Shri Justice R avindra Kumar Agrawal

Order on Board

VED 17/02/2026 PRAKASH DEWANGAN

1. The present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India Digitally signed by VED PRAKASH DEWANGAN Date: 2026.03.13 validity of the order dated 06.01.2009 passed by the District Collector, Jashpur, in his capacity as the Disciplinary Authority, whereby a punishment of recovery of Rs. 3,04,206/- and withholding of one annual increment with non-cumulative effect have been imposed upon the petitioner on account of proved financial irregularities, as well as the appellate order dated 12.01.2010 passed by the Divisional Commissioner, Ambikapur, affirming the said order.

2. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking for the following reliefs:-

“That this Hon’ble Court be pleased to:-

a) to set aside the punishment of recovery of an amount of Rs.3,04206 imposed by the District Collector, Jashpur in his order dated 6/1/2009 as also the order of the appellate authority's order dated 12/1/2010 confirming the said order.

b) To issue a writ of mandamus commanding the Respondent Bank to sell only so much portion of the land as would satisfy the loan with interest.

c) To award cost of this petition.

d) To grant any other relief that this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice.”

3. The facts of the case as emerges from the pleadings of the petition are that, the petitioner was working as Assistant Grade–II in the Women & Child Development Department and was posted at Child Development Project, Manora, District Jashpur at the relevant time. While discharging his duties, certain complaints were received alleging financial irregularities in disbursement of honorarium to Anganwadi Workers and in utilization of funds allotted under various welfare schemes. Pursuant thereto, the petitioner was placed under suspension by order dated 16.08.2005 issued by the competent authority.

******* Thereafter, a charge-sheet dated 13.10.2005 was issued to the petitioner alleging, inter alia, that he, along with the Project Officer, had failed to deposit amounts meant for disbursement to Anganwadi Workers within time, had obtained acknowledgments for amounts higher than those actually paid, and had made lesser payments towards purchase of materials while accounting for higher amounts, thereby indulging in falsification and irregular maintenance of accounts. A departmental enquiry was instituted and an Inquiry Officer as well as a Presenting Officer were appointed.

******* The enquiry culminated in submission of a report holding the charges against the petitioner to be proved. Based on the said report, the District Collector, Jashpur, acting as the Disciplinary Authority, passed order dated 06.01.2009 imposing punishment of recovery of Rs. 3,04,206/- from the petitioner and withholding of one annual increment with non-cumulative effect. The order of suspension was revoked and the petitioner was reinstated in service with effect from

06.01.2009.

******* Aggrieved by the said order, the petitioner preferred a departmental appeal before the Divisional Commissioner, Ambikapur. The Appellate Authority, upon consideration of the matter, dismissed the appeal by order dated 12.01.2010 and affirmed the punishment imposed by the Di