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2011 DIGILAW 366 (MAD)

K. Kesavaraj v. State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by the Secretary to Government Municipal Administration and Water

2011-01-24

K.CHANDRU

body2011
Judgment :- 1. The petitioner filed Original Application in O.A.No.4403 of 2000 before the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal challenging the order dated 06.10.1999 passed in G.O.(D) No.458, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department by the first respondent herein. By the impugned order, the petitioner was imposed with the penalty of stoppage of increment with cumulative effect for a period of six months. 2. Earlier when the petitioner was working as a Market Superintendent of the Erode Municipality was proceeded under Rule 8(2) of the Tamil Nadu Municipal Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1970. The petitioner was given a charge memo for his various acts of commissions and omissions while discharging his duties as Market Superintendent in the Erode Municipality. In respect of the charge memo, the Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Tiruppur was appointed as Enquiry Officer and he found that the petitioner, being the Market Superintendent, Assistant Revenue Officer, Revenue Officer and Commissioner are all jointly responsible in respect of the charges. But in the case of the petitioner, it was stated that in respect of the first charge namely that he was responsible for waiving four months rent that recoverable from one Tmt.A.Ramayee from 01.04.1995 to 31.07.1995, he held the first charge proved. The second charge was that he allowed the lessee of Nethaji Market, Erode to collect the daily rent of Rs.10/- per stall from 154 unauthorised stalls and caused financial loss. The Enquiry Officer found that the petitioner has failed to guide the Commissioner and partly responsible for the loss caused. The third charge relates to the failure to cancel the lease deed of the lessees viz., Tmt.Uma Maheswari and Tmt.A.Ramayee who are sub-letting their shops to others. The Enquiry Officer found that there is no proof in respect of the third charge and held the charge as not proved. In respect of the fourth charge there was no agreement from the lessee Tmt.A.Ramayee for having possession of the third floor. The findings in respect of the fourth charge was that not only the petitioner, but also the Assistant Revenue Officer, Revenue Officer and the Commissioner are jointly responsible and held that the petitioner was partly responsible. In respect of the fourth charge there was no agreement from the lessee Tmt.A.Ramayee for having possession of the third floor. The findings in respect of the fourth charge was that not only the petitioner, but also the Assistant Revenue Officer, Revenue Officer and the Commissioner are jointly responsible and held that the petitioner was partly responsible. Based upon the report submitted by the Regional Director, the State Government passed the impugned order in G.O.(D) No.458, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, dated 06.10.1999 and on the basis of the proved charges, the State Government imposed the penalty. Challenging the same, the petitioner filed Original Application in O.A.No.4403 of 2000. 3. The Original Application was admitted on 29.06.2000. In view of the abolition of the Tribunal, the matter stood transferred to this Court and was renumbered as W.P.No.40941 of 2006. 4. The respondents have not filed any reply affidavit till date. However, the petitioner filed an additional typed-set containing the order dated 08.07.2003 passed by the Tribunal in O.A.Nos.4427 and 6434 of 2000. The said Original Applications were relating to one Mr.M.Natarajan, Revenue Officer in the same Municipality, who was also similarly charge-sheeted. In his case, there are eight charges. But in respect of the charges levelled against the petitioner herein, the said Revenue Officer was also similarly charge-sheeted for the very same transaction. The Tribunal, by its order dated 08.07.2003 held the said Revenue Officer was not guilty of the charges and that the punishment imposed on him was not valid and subsequently allowed those Original Applications and the respondents therein were directed to disburse all the terminal benefits due to the Revenue Officer. The Tribunal, in para 12 of its order held that the said Tmt.A.Ramayee was able to take possession of the third floor only after the removal of the obstacles and encroachment and therefore, the Revenue Officer was not responsible for the loss caused. In respect of other charges, the Tribunal found that the actions have been done with the approval of the Municipal Commissioner and therefore, the very framing of the charges was without any basis. In para 10, the Tribunal held that above the Revenue Officer, there are Commissioner and Municipality Engineers, who are higher officials and therefore, all the charges cannot be levelled against the subordinates. In para 10, the Tribunal held that above the Revenue Officer, there are Commissioner and Municipality Engineers, who are higher officials and therefore, all the charges cannot be levelled against the subordinates. It is in that view of the matter, the punishment imposed on the Revenue Officer viz., Mr.M.Natarajan was set aside. 5. Mr.P.Ganesan, learned counsel for the petitioner strongly contended that as against the order passed by the Tribunal, there was no challenge either by the Government or by the Municipality and that order became final and what applies to the case of the Revenue Officer Mr.M.Natarajan squarely applies to the case of the petitioner as the charges are identical. 6. This Court had perused the charge memo given to Mr.M.Natarajan, Revenue Officer as well as to the petitioner. In respect of the proved charges as against the petitioner, the said Mr.M.Natarajan was also similarly charge-sheeted. One may not have the different views on the findings recorded by the Tribunal and in so far as the findings have been accepted by the Government and the Revenue Officer was also allowed to retire, this Court is not inclined to have a different view in respect of the petitioner. Hence, the impugned order stands set aside and the writ petition is allowed. No costs.