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HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T.M.NADAF WRIT APPEAL NO. 905 OF 2025 (S-DE)

C/W WRIT APPEAL NO. 603 OF 2024 (S-DE)

IN WA No. 905/2025 BETWEEN:

P RAGHURAM AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS, S/O P RAMAIAH FLAT NO.302, GOLDEN TOWERS, STREET NO.8 HABSIGUDA, HYDERABAD - 500 007.

…APPELLANT Digitally (BY SRI.SRI.VIGNESHWAR S.SHASTRI., SENIOR ADVOCATE signed by FOR SRI.K.R.GANESH RAO., ADVOCATE)

REKHA R AND:

Location:

H o K f a ig rn h a C ta o k u a rt 1. T A H PP E E G LL E A N T E E R A A L U T M H A O N R A I G T E Y R , , Z ONAL OFFICE, VIJAYA BANK, NOW BANK OF BARODA, 41/2 M G ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 001.

2. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, (PERSONAL DEPT.) VIJAYA BANK, HEAD OFFICE 41/2, M G ROAD, PRESENTLY CHIEF MANAGER, HC-KAR H R HEAD, HRM DEPARTMENT, ZONAL OFFICE, BANK OF BARODA, 41/2 M G ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 001.

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3. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, REGIONAL OFFICE, VIJAYA BANK 97/1, PARK STREET KOLKATA, PRESENTLY GENERAL MANAGER, ZONAL HEAD, ZONAL OFFICE, BANK OF BARODA, PLOT NO.3812, BLOCK G N SECTOR-V, SALT LAKE CITY, KOLKATTA - 700 091.

4. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, REGIONAL OFFICE, VIJAYA BANK, BASHEET BAGH, HYDERABAD, PRESENTLY, GENERAL MANAGER, BANK OF BARODA, ZONAL HEAD, ZONAL OFFICE NO.3-6-289, KAREEM MANZIL OLD MLA QUARTERS, HYDERGUDA, HYDERABAD - 500 029.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.SYED KASHIF., ADVOCATE FOR SRI.PRADEEP S.SAWKAR, ADVOCATE)

THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO ALLOW THIS WRIT APPEAL AND MODIFY THE ORDER DATED 04.10.2023 PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE IN W.P.No.7462/2003 (S) BY ALLOWING THE SAID W.P.No.7462/2003 WITH COSTS, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

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HC-KAR IN WA NO. 603/2024 BETWEEN:

1. THE GENERAL MANAGER (PERSONNEL), APPELLATE AUTHORITY, BANK OF BARODA, (ERSTWHILE VIJAYA BANK)

41/2, M.G. ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 001 NOW BEING REPRESENTED BY SRI PRATHIB SARKAR, CHIEF MANAGER, HRM.

2. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, (PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT), BANK OF BARODA, (ERSTWHILE VIJAYA BANK)

HEAD OFFICE, 41/2, M.G. ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 001 NOW BEING REPRESENTED BY SRI PRATHIB SARKAR, CHIEF MANAGER, HRM.

3. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, REGIONAL OFFICE, BANK OF BARODA, (ERSTWHILE VIJAYA BANK)

97/1, PARK STREET, KOLKATA NOW BEING REPRESENTED BY SRI PRATHIB SARKAR, CHIEF MANAGER, HRM.

4. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, REGIONAL OFFICE, BANK OF BARODA, (ERSTWHILE VIJAYA BANK)

BASHEER BAGH, HYDERABAD HC-KAR NOW BEING REPRESENTED BY SRI PRATHIB SARKAR, CHIEF MANAGERM HRM.

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...APPELLANTS (BY SRI.SYED KASHIF., ADVOCATE FOR SRI.PRADEEP S.SAWKAR, ADVOCATE)

AND:

P RAGHURAM AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS, S/O P RAMAIAH FLAT NO.302, GOLDEN TOWERS, STREET NO.8, HABSIGUDA, HYDERABAD - 500 007.

...RESPONDENT (BY SRI.SRI.VIGNESHWAR S.SHASTRI., SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SRI.K.R.GANESH RAO., ADVOCATE)

THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT, ACT 1961 PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 04.10.2023 PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE IN WP No. 7462/2003 (S-DE) BY ALLOWING THIS APPEAL AND CONSEQUENTLY DISMISS THE WRIT PETITION IN WP No.7462/2003 (S-DE) WITH COSTS IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

THESE APPEALS, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T.M.NADAF HC-KAR

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ORAL JUDGMENT

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T.M.NADAF)

These two appeals being W.A.No.904/2025 and W.A.No.603/2024 are by Employee and Employer respectively under Section 4 of the Karnataka High Court Act, 1961, challenging the order dated 04.10.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.No.7462/2003.

2. The learned Single Judge by the impugned order, set-aside the order of dismissal dated 13.12.2001 passed by respondent No.2 (Annexure-Q) and the order dated 04.05.2002 passed by respondent No.1 in appeal and modified the order by substituting order of penalty of dismiss