2022 Supreme(Online)(Kar) 40046
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2022
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G.NARENDAR
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJENDRA BADAMIKAR
WRIT PETITION NO.1857/2020 (L-RES)
BETWEEN:
THE GENERAL MANAGER (P)
CANARA BANK, 112, J C ROAD,
BENGALURU 3 560 002.
... PETITIONER
(BY SRI T.P.MUTHANNA, ADV.)
AND:
GANGANARASIMHAIAH
S/O SRI. KAMBAIAH,
NES EXTENSION, GANDHINAGAR
MAGADI TOWN, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT
BENGALURU 3 560210.
... RESPONDENT
(BY SRI M.V.VEDAMURTHY, ADV.)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 &
227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE
AWARD DATED 25.9.2019 IN C.R.NO.138/2007 PASSED BY THE
LEARNED CGIT CUM LABOUR COURT BENGALURU ANNEXURE-D
TO THE W.P. ETC.
THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR <PRELIMINARY
HEARING = THIS DAY, G.NARENDAR J, MADE THE FOLLOWING:
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Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner.
2.
The petitioner is before this Court being aggrieved by
the award of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-
Labour Court dated 25.09.2019 rendered in C.R.No.138/2007.
3.
The allegations against the respondent-employee are
that he pressurized the bank manager to advance loans to his
father consisting of two installments of Rs.25,000/- each. That
he unauthorizedly made a debit from savings bank account
No.1550. That he coerced the manager for sanction of loan and
that he tampered with the bank records. On the said basis, the
Enquiry Officer, after conducting an enquiry, came to the
conclusion that the employer has proved the allegations and
submitted a Report accordingly. The respondent was visited with
the punishment of compulsory retirement. Aggrieved, the
workmen sought reference and on a reference by the Central
Government vide order dated 08.10.2007, the Tribunal took up
the matter, heard the parties and was pleased to allow reference
and by its award was pleased to set-aside the punishment of
compulsory retirement and was further pleased to direct 2nd
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party employer to reinstate the workman into his original post
with continuity of service but without back wages. Aggrieved, the
employer is before this Court.
4.
It is contended by learned counsel for the petitioner
that the Tribunal has committed a cardinal error in allowing
reference and ordering reinstatement. That the Hon9ble Apex
Court has in catena of decisions held that such employees ought
not to be spared and should be dealt with in the strictest possible
manner and that the award setting aside the punishment of
compulsory retirement is erroneous and warrants interference at
the hands of this Court. The Tribunal after discussing the
material on record has rendered a finding that there is absolutely
no material evidentiary value, establishing the complicity of the
employee in the alleged misdemenour. Prima facie, on perusal of
the material, we find substance in the findings rendered by the
Tribunal.
5.
At the outset, we find the charges itself absurd. The
first charge is that loans have been advanced to the father of the
workman. It is neither within the scope nor within his
competence, to sanction the loans. A simple commercial act of
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granting the loan is sought to be given a colour merely because
of the relationship of the employee and account holder.
6.
It is not the case of the employer that the account
was opened after the employee was posted to the bank. It is not
the case of the employer that father does not reside within the
jurisdiction of the bank. It is also not the case of the employer
that there are irregularities in the sanction of the loans. It is also
an admitted fact that the loans have been sanctioned by the
competent authority i.e., Branch Manager and it is also not the
case of the employer that the father was not eligible for sanction
of loan. In other words, the facts establishing the ineligibility of
the father to seek loan is not placed on record. Nextly, the other
charge is that he has unauthorizedly made a debit from saving
bank account No.1550. Even the charge would state that the
amount debited has been debited in the ledger but he has failed
to enter in the subsidiary sheet. If that be so and in the absence
of any complaint from the account holder, we find it strange that
the same is been sought to be converted into a misdemeanor.
The third charge is that he has tampered with the bank records.
No material is placed to show what are the records that are
tampered or what is benefit he has derived.
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7.
We have perused the enquiry report and heard the
learned counsel for the petitioner.
8.
Nothing is placed before us to demonstrate that the
findings of the Tribunal that there is no evidentiary material
establishing the complicity of the workman is erroneous. That
apart, on a specific query as to whether any financial loss has
occurred to the bank or there is any misappropriation, l