ORDER

This Writ Petition is filed seeking to declare the action of the respondents in not concluding the enquiry against the petitioner in Tribunal Enquiry Case No.239 of 2013, initiated vide charge memo dated 21.12.2017 issued by the respondent No.3 pertaining to an incident for the year 2007, in terms of G.O.Ms.No.679, General Administration (Services-C) Department, dated 01.11.2008, as illegal and arbitrary.

2. Heard Sri R.Satyanarayana Murthy, learned Counsel for the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Services-Home appearing for the respondents and perused the entire material available on record.

3. The brief facts leading to filing of the present Writ Petition are that, by the time of filing of writ petition itself, the petitioner was retired from service on 30.09.2020. The petitioner was issued a charge memo on 21.12.2017 by the respondent No.3 in Tribunal Enquiry Case No.239 of 2013. Despite the lapse of several years, the disciplinary proceedings remained unconcluded, causing the petitioner severe hardship. Therefore, learned Counsel for the petitioner prayed this Court to allow the Writ Petition by directing the respondent No.3-Tribunal to conclude the proceedings within the time frame stipulated in G.O.Ms.No.679, General Administration (Services-C) Department, dated 01.11.2008 and as per the orders of this Court in W.P.No.32300 of 2022 dated 22.08.2022 and W.P.No.2473 of 2023 dated 31.01.2023.

4. On the other hand, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Services-Home appearing for the respondents submits that due to administrative delay, the respondent authorities have not concluded the disciplinary proceedings within the stipulated period and they will follow procedure as per law. Therefore, learned Assistant Government Pleader requested this Court to pass appropriate orders.

5. In view of submissions made on both sides, this Court deems it fit and proper to direct the respondent No.3 to conclude the disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner within a period of six (6) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is needless to mention that the petitioner has to cooperate with the authorities. If the proceedings cannot be concluded within this period for any reason, the respondent Nos.1 and 2 are directed to take a decision on the disciplinary proceedings in accordance with law, otherwise, the disciplinary proceedings shall be deemed to have been dropped.

6. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of.

Miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. There shall be no order as to costs.