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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8728 of 2018 CNR No. BRHC010498532018 ================================================

Rahul Kumar Gautam S/o Shri Arun Kumar, resident of Village-

Hakikatpur, P.O. P.S.- Bakhtiyarpur, District- Patna.

... ... Petitioner/s Versus

1. The Punjab National Bank, Through Its General Manager

2. The Zonal Manager cum Disciplinary Authority, Punjab National Bank, Patna Zone at Zonal Office, R B

3. The Chief Manager-cum- Enquiry Authority, Punjab National Bank at Circle Office, Ramchandarpur, Bih

4. The Manager HRD-cum- Presenting Officer PO, Punjab National Bank at Circle Office, Ramchandarpu

5. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection IBPS, through its Authorized Representative at Mumbai Ma ... ... Respondent/s ================================================

Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Chittranjan Sinha, Sr. Advocate Mr.Sanchay Srivastava, Advocate Mr. Sushant Srivastava, Advocate Mrs. Sonali Priya, Advocate For the Respondent/s : Mr.Kumar Priya Ranjan, Advocate For IBPS : Mr. Siddartha Prasad, Advocate Mr. Sunit Kumar, Advocate For the Bank : Mr. Dr. Pankaj, Advocate ================================================ CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KUMAR MANISH

CAV JUDGMENT

Date : 15-10-2026

1. Heard learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Respondent-Bank.

2. The present writ application has been filed by the petitioner seeking interalia for the following reliefs:

I. For quashing and setting aside the order dated 31.03.2018 (Annexure P/24 to the writ application), by which respondent no. 2 has dismissed, disqualified and terminated the services of the Petitioner and has further debarred him from future employment on the ground of alleged impersonation;

II. For directing the concerned respondent to grant and ex-parte ad-

interim stay with immediate effect till the final outcome of this writ application;

III.For directing the concerned respondents to reinstate the services and employment of the Petitioner in Punjab National Bank on the post and pay grade to which the Petitioner was rendering his services and accord all the consequential benefits to the Petitioner arising out of the service;

IV.For directing the concerned respondents for continuance of payment of salary to the Petitioner with immediate effect on the ground that the Petitioner is the sole bread earner in his family.

V. For issuance of any other relief which the Petitioner is found entitled to.

VI. For quashing and setting aside the order dated 07.05.2024, by which the memorandum of appeal filed by the Petitioner before the Appellate Authority has been dismissed and the dismissal of Petitioner dated 31.03.2018 has been approved. (Added vide order dated 24.09.2024 in terms of I.A. No. 01 of 2024).

Facts of the Case

3. The petitioner, pursuant to an advertisement published on 10.07.2013, by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), for the Common Written Examination (CWE/PO/MT-III), applied and appeared for the online examination to be held on 20.10.2013. Upon qualifying in the written examination, he was called for an interview on 06.01.2014, following which he was selected as a Management Trainee / Probationary Officer. The Respondent-Bank issued an appointment letter dated 02.07.2014 to the petitioner. After successfully undergoing six months of pre-induction training at Belapur, the petitioner formally joined the service of the Punjab National Bank on 16.02.2015 and was eventually posted at Branch Office situated at Bhadseni under the Biharsharif Circle.

4. The Chief Vigilance Officer of the Respondent-Bank received complaint dated 20.03.2015, against the petitioner alleging impersonation in the written test. The record further indicates that forensic examination of the relevant examination and interview documents was undertaken thereafter. The CFSL, Shimla, submitted Report No. BX-90/2016 dated 07.10