The Commissioner of Most Backward Classes and De-notified Community, & Anr. vs A.Saravanan

The instant writ appeal has been filed questioning the order dated 30 October 2013 made in W.P.(MD) No.17789 of 2013, whereby the

appellants herein were directed to keep the enquiry into the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the respondent herein vide charge memo

No.B1/5674/2012, dated 12 April 2013 in abeyance until the conclusion of the criminal case in crime No.38 of 2012 on the file of the District

Crime Branch, Dindigul.

The writ petitioner, Headmaster, then working in Government Kallar Reclamation Higher Secondary school, Anaipatti, Dindigul District was

implicated as first accused in crime No.38 of 2012 on the file of the District Crime Branch, Dindigul under Section 120(b), 409, 420, 465, 468

and 471 of I.P.C. One Sivakumar, Junior Assistant working in the same school was made as second accused. F.I.R. Was registered on 23

November 2012. Charge memo was served on the writ petitioner on 12 April 2013. The allegation in the charge memo is that the writ petitioner

Saravanan and the said Junior Assistant S.Sivakumar misappropriated the Government money to the tune of Rs.19,85,428/-. Since the

Government initiated disciplinary proceedings against the writ petitioner, he filed W.P.(MD) No.17789 of 2013, seeking stay of the disciplinary

proceedings till the conclusion of the criminal case. The learned Judge relied on the decision reported in (1999) 3 SCC 679 - Captain M.Paul

Anthony Vs. Bharat Gold Mines Ltd., and another and allowed the writ petition. Aggrieved by the same, the Department is on appeal.

We have heard the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the appellants and Mr.A.Thirumurthy, learned counsel appearing for

the respondent.

It is true that in Captain M.Paul Anthony''s case, the Hon''ble Supreme Court held that if the departmental proceedings and the criminal case are

based on identical and similar set of facts and the charge in the criminal case against the delinquent employee is of a grave nature which involves

complicated questions of law and fact, it would be desirable to stay the departmental proceedings till the conclusion of the criminal case. Whether

the nature of the charge in the criminal case is grave and whether complicated questions of law and fact are involved in that case will depend upon

the nature of the offences, nature of the case launched against the employee on the basis of the evidence and material collected against him during

investigation as reflected in the charge sheet.

We find that in the present case, the said principles have been set out and the writ has been allowed straightaway. This, in our respectful view,

cannot be said to be the correct approach. There must be an independent application of the aforesaid principles to the factual matrix obtaining on

hand. Without satisfying that the said principles are applicable, the question of granting stay of departmental proceedings cannot arise.

The learned Judge has merely observed that facts involved in both the proceedings are same and most of the witnesses are likely to be common.

This does not meet the standard set out in Captain M.Paul Anthony ''s case. The charge in the criminal case against the delinquent employee must

be a grave nature and involving complicated questions of law and fact. Then and then alone it would be desirable to stay the departmental

proceedings till the conclusion of the criminal case. Even though such an approach was not undertaken in the instant case, we are not inclined to

interfere with the order of stay of departmental proceedings for the reason that it was passed as early as on 30 October 2013. The instant writ

appeal has come up for admission before us after a lapse of more than 45 months.

Now the question is whether the departmental proceedings can be indefinitely stayed. We are informed that the second accused Sivakumar is

absconding. We direct the police to conclude the investigation expeditiously and file the final report within three months from the date of receipt of

a copy of this order. If the accused is not available, it is always open to the investigating officer to file an absconding charge sheet. If the police file

the final report including the writ petitioner herein as an accused, the criminal Court shall complete the trial within a period of 12 months from the

date of taking cognizance of the criminal case. If need be, the criminal Court should split the case and proceed against the writ petitioner/accused

alone. The writ petitioner/accused shall extend full co-operation to the trial Court for an early disposal of the case. If the trial is not completed

within the stipulated period, despite the steps, which the trial Court has been directed to take, disciplinary proceedings against the respondent/writ

petitioner, shall be resumed by the enquiry officer. The direction given in favour of the writ petitioner/respondent for keeping the disciplinary

proceedings in abeyance shall stand vacated forthwith upon the expiry of the said period of 15 months. The trial Court shall take effective steps to

ensure that the witnesses are served and are examined without delay. In case, any adjournment becomes inevitable, it should not be for more than

a fortnight when necessary. We have adopted the course of action mentioned above in view of the decision of the Hon''ble Supreme Court of India

reported in 2016(9) SCC 491 S.B.I and Others Vs. Neelam Nag.

This writ appeal is disposed of on the terms set out above.

No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.