The court affirmed that disciplinary proceedings can continue simultaneously with criminal trials, and acquittal in a criminal case does not automatically affect related departmental proceedings.

JUDGEMENT

SANJAY KAROL, J.

1. The instant lis presents two questions for consideration by this Court. They are- a)Does clause 4 of the Memorandum of Settlement dated 10th April 2002 create a bar on departmental proceedings continuing when the person subjected thereto is being tried before a criminal court for offences of the same origin? Page 1 of 19 Digitally signed by NITIN TALREJA Date: 2023.10.03 18:03:08 IST Reason:

Signature Not Verified b)Does acquittal in some of the connected proceedings entail a benefit in the surviving proceedings? Further, inuring a right upon the delinquent employee of automatic discharge in disciplinary proceedings?

2. This appeal, by way of special leave, is directed against the final judgement and order dated 7th January 2009 passed in Writ Appeal No.03/2006 by which the order passed in Writ Petition (Civil) No.12 of 2005 dated 25th July 2005 allowing the appeal of the Respondent herein against the order of dismissal from bank services dated 28th March 2003 and the rejection of the departmental appeal vide order 16th August 2004, was allowed and the order of the Learned Single Judge confirmed.

Background

3. The facts of the instant dispute as they emanate from the record are:-

3.1 The respondent namely P. Zadenga1 was employed in the State Bank of India2 as Assistant (CAT) at the Dawrpui Branch, Aizawl. Three government retailers lodged a complaint with the Aizawl Police Station that their challan- 1 Hereinafter referred to as “the delinquent employee”

2 Hereinafter, the “Appellant Bank”

deposits with the said Branch had not been entered into the cash receipt scroll. The District Civil Supply Officer, Aizawl West, also lodged a complaint that a certain retailer had taken the delivery of particular food stuff using a fake challan.

3.2 Pursuant thereto, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the respondent with the issuance of a Memorandum dated 8th December 1999, wherein it was alleged that he had received Rs.61,908 for a deposit on 19th April,1996 in respect of which a challan was issued, but the amount never deposited in the respective account. Two other similar occurrences dated 21st February 1995 regarding Rs.24,640 and Rs.27,412 were also alleged.

3.3 Three different FIRs stood registered against him, under which he was arrested but later released on bail. In his written show cause to this Memorandum, the Delinquent employee contended that the disciplinary proceedings should be either dropped or closed since criminal cases were pending him, arising from the same set of transactions.

3.4 The appellant-bank proceeded to appoint an inquiry officer who, in his report, submitted that three out of four charges stood established. The Delinquent Employee, again denying the charges, filed a response to that but was eventually dismissed from the services at the bank, vide the order of dismissal dated 28th March 2003. The departmental appeal filed by him, after due opportunity of hearing, was dismissed on 16th August 2004.

4. Aggrieved by the dismissal of the departmental appeal, the delinquent employee filed Writ Petition (Civil) No.12 of 2005 before the Gauhati High Court. The question before the said Court was: whether, in view of the Memorandum of Settlement dated 10th April 20023, the disciplinary proceedings against the delinquent employee (respondent) herein ought to have been stayed or not.

5. Having recorded that post sig