UNION OF INDIA & ORS. vs MAHENDER SINGH

Judgment text excerpt

$~104 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 3755/2023 and CM APPL.14752/2023 UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Ms. Pratima N. Lakra, CGSC with Mr. Kashish Gupta, Adv. versus MAHENDER SINGH .....Respondent Through: Mr. Manjeet Singh Reen, Adv. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAY DIGPAUL JUDGMENT (ORAL) % 16.01.2025 C.HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. On 6 June 2005, the respondent Mahender Singh was issued a charge sheet, proposing initiation of disciplinary proceedings against him. The proceedings ultimately resulted in imposition, on the respondent, of the penalty of “reduction in the same pay band by one step with cumulative effect”. The punishment was affirmed by the Appellate Authority vide order dated 24 October 2010. The respondent approached the Central Administrative Tribunal1 by way of OA 2115/2011. The Tribunal, vide judgment dated 22 February 2013, set aside the punishment order as well as the appellate order and remanded the matter to the Appellate Authority to pass a speaking order. The Appellate Authority once again rejected the respondent’s appeal vide 1 “Tribunal” hereinafter Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:AJIT WP(C) 3755/2023 Page 1 of 8 KUMAR Signing Date:18.01.2025 20:37:38 order dated 3 July 2013. A Revision Petition, preferred thereagainst, was rejected by the Revisionary Authority on 25 October 2013. The respondent once again approached the Tribunal by way of OA 1893/2014 in which the Tribunal, once again, vide order dated 23 August 2018, quashed and set aside the order of punishment, the appellate order and the revisionary order and directed the petitioners to proceed de novo from the stage of issuance of the charge sheet and appoint an appropriate Inquiry Officer to conduct the enquiry. Th