SH. SANTOSH KUMAR vs STATE BANK OF INDIA AND ANR.

Judgment text excerpt

$~3 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of decision: 04.12.2025 + W.P.(C) 13824/2018 SH. SANTOSH KUMAR .....Appellant Through: Mr. Ram Nath Jha & Mr. Mukund Kumar, Advs. versus STATE BANK OF INDIA AND ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Siddharth Sangal & Ms. Richa Mishra & Ms. Shreya Garg, Advs. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AVNEESH JHINGAN AVNEESH JHINGAN, J. (ORAL) 1. This petition was filed with four prayers but the learned counsel for the petitioner has pressed only prayer no.1 for setting aside the order dated 10.08.2018 passed by the Reviewing Committee of the State Bank of India (for short „SBI‟) 2. The brief facts are that the petitioner joined the SBI as Clerk- cum-Cashier on 01.06.1995. Petitioner was working as Branch Manager in 2014 when the lapses were committed while being posted at NCC Dabrai branch. A notice dated 12.07.2014 sought explanation from the petitioner regarding disbursal of loans to forty eight accounts. The petitioner filed a response on 06.07.2015. A charge sheet dated 22.01.2015 was served upon the petitioner and on receipt of the inquiry report dated 26.03.2015, the departmental proceedings Signature Not Verified Signed By:AWANISHW.P.(C) 13824/2018 Page 1 of 10 CHANDRA MISHRA Signing Date:09.12.2025 12:39:40 were initiated. The petitioner filed a reply dated 13.11.2015 to the inquiry report dated 09.10.2015. The proceedings culminated in an order dated 01.03.2016 imposing the penalty of „dismissal‟. The appeal against the dismissal order was dismissed on 27.10.2017. The orders of dismissal and the appellate authority were upheld on merits by an order dated 04.05.2018, passed in W.P.(C) 4733/2018. So far as the proportionality of penalty was concerned, in view of Rule 69(3)(i) of the State Bank of India Officers Rules, 1992 permi