Manoj Kumar Thakur v. Chairman Cum M.D.,Central Bank
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.12258 of 2009 ====================================================== Manoj Kumar Thakur, Son of Late Satya Narayan Singh, Village - Amritpur, P.S. - Tajpur, District - Samastipur, Bihar.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. Chairman Cum Managing Director represented through Zonal Manager (Appellate Authority), Central Bank of India, Zonal Office, Pawapuri Vihar, N.H. 28, Bhagwnapur, Muzaffarpur - 1.
2. Regional Manager (Disciplinary Authority), Central Bank of India, Regional Office, Alalpatti, Darbhanga - 846003.
3. Senior Manager (Enquiry Officer), Central Bank of India, Zonal Officer, Muzaffarpur.
4. Assistant Manager (Presenting Officer), Central Bank of India, Regional Office, Darbhanga.
5. Senior Manager, Central Bank of India, Branch Office, Pusa Farm, Samastipur, Bihar.
6. Manager (Cash), Central Bank of India, Branch Office, Pusa Farm, Samastipur, Bihar.
... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr. Mirtyunjay Kumar Mishra, Advocate For the Respondent/s :
Mr. Ajay Kumar Sinha, Sr. Advocate Mr. Ajit Kumar Sinha, Advocate Ms. Minu Kumari, Advocate Mr. Dilkash Khan, Advocate Mr. Pravin Kumar, Advocate ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. B. BAJANTHRI ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 15-02-2023 The petitioner has unnecessarily impleaded respondents by name insofar as respondent Nos. 3 to 6 without alleging any allegation of malafide or bias against such of those persons who
2/8 have been impleaded therefore, petitioner's counsel is hereby directed to delete their names during the course of the day.
2. In the instant petition, petitioner has prayed for the following relief/reliefs:
"(i) For setting aside the order of dismissal dated 16.06.2007 passed by respondent no. 2 in his capacity as Disciplinary Authority in the matter of departmental inquiry held against the petitioner, Head Cashier - II Pusa Farm Branch of the respondent Bank.
(ii) For a direction to the respondents to reinstate the petitioner with full back wages.
(iii) For holding that the major punishment of dismissal from service without notice is against the doctrine of proportionality in administrative law.
(iv) For holding that the punishment of dismissal being disproportionate to the misconduct alleged against the petitioner is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
(v) For holding that the entire disciplinary proceeding is vitiated by non-observance of principle of Natural Justice and has proceeded in a pre-judicial manner without application of mind.
(vi) For any other relief or reliefs to which the petitioner may deemed entitled."
3. The petitioner while working as Head Cashier - II alleged to have committed misdeeds for which he was subjected to disciplinary proceedings in framing two charges. The following are the two charges:
"
आरोपसंखया - 1:
"Sri. Manjoj Kumar Thakur was incharge of Cash Department. On 18.10.2006 he tried to close cash safe by inflating the Cash
3/8 Balance by an amount of Rs. 172000/-, Sri. Thakur written the cash memo and inflated the demomination of notes to the tune of Rs. 172000/- and produced the cash memo before Sri. Bharat Bhushan, ABM, Pusa Farm, who was second signatory of the cash memo. During the course of counting the notes, Sri. Bhushan found that amount of Rs. 172000/- was less in the packets of Rs. 500/- and 100/- denominations. After enquiry from Sri. Thakur, he told that he has given Rs. 172000/- to one customer who has assured him to pay the amount by 4 PM. Thus, Sri. Thakur misappropriated the Bank's fund and tried to conceal the fact." उपररकतआरोपकोसाववतकरनेहेतरप्रबनधनप्रवतवनवधदाराप्रबनधनप्रदर 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 एवं10 प्रसतरतवकरागराएवंप्रबनधनगवाह1 एवं2 के बरानदाराभीवसतरवससवतकोकारवाहीपरलानेकाप्ररासवकरागरा।प्र. प्रद. 7 एवं8 मेआरोवपतकमरचारीदारावलवखततथरोकोप्र.ग. 1 केमरखर परीकणप्रशनसं. 19 एवं20 केउतरदाराभीकारवाहीपरलारागरा। प्र.
प्रर7 दाराआरोवपतकमरचारीनेराखाप्रबनधककोसूवचतवकराहैवकउसने र. 172000/- एककसटमरकोवदरावजसने4 बजेरामतकरपरापहरंचादेनेकी बातकहीसीपरनतरपहरँबारानहीं।प्र.
प्रद8 दाराआरोवपतकमरचारीनेराखा प्रबनधकसेअनररोधवकराहैवकउसकेदाराखजरकीगईर. 172000/- कीरावर कीपूवतरकीजारवजसेवेकलतकपूराकरदेने र्रीभारतभूषण, प्रबनधकदाराप्रबनधनप्रदर10 मेवलवखततथरो, प्र.
प्रदर4 एवं5 तसाप्र.
गवाह1 दारामरखरपरीकणप्रशनसं. 22 केउतरतसा प्र. गवाह- 2 दारामरखरपरीकणप्रशनसे4 केउतरकासंदभरदेतेहरएप्रबनधन प्रवतवनवधदारारहआरोपवसदकरनेकाप्ररासवकरागराहै।प्रबनधन प्रवतवनवधनेप्र.
प्रद4 एवं5 के'
पेडटूडेकॉलममेवदखाईगईरावरकेअनतर एवंप्र. प्रद. 6 कीरावरतसाइससंबंधमेगवाहोकेबरानकासंदभरदेतेहरएभी इसआरोपकोसाववतकरनेकाप्ररासवकराहै।इसआरोपकेसंदभरमेप्रबनधन प्रवतवनवधनेप्र. प्रद. 2 मेराखाकेववरषठप्रबनधकदाराववणरतघटनाके ववसतृतवववरणकाभीउललेखवकराहैवजसकेदाराकेत्रीरप्रबनधककोर. 500/- एवंर. 100/- पैकेटमेकरलर172000/- कीकमीकीसूचनादीगईहै। दूसरीतरफबचावपकदारारहतकरवदरागराहैवककारवनषपादनकेदौरानघटी रावरकीभरपाईउसीवदनरानी18.10.2006 कोहीआरोवपतकमरचारीदाराकरदी गई।बचावपककेवलवखततकरमेरभीववणरतहैवकवजसतरहकीघटनावदनांक 18.10.2006 कोघटीऐसीवससवतमेकोईभीकमरचारीसामानरवससवतमेनहींरह सकताऔरनौकरीकेछूटनेकेभरसेवहकरछभीकरदेनेकोतैरारहोसकताहै। आगेववणरतहैवकपवरवससवतववरेषमेवरीरप्रबनधककेदवाबपरआरोवपत कमरचारीदारावलवखतरपसेवदएगएपत्रउनकेसामानरवससवतमेनहींहोनेका संकेतदेतीहै।बचावपकनेअपनेवलवखततकरमेइसेवलवपकीरभूलभीकहाहै। परनःबचावपकनेप्र. प्रद. 6 कीतरलनाप्र. प्रद. 5 सेकरतेहरएइनकेमौवलकता परसंदेहजावहरवकराहैतसारोकडजवरनवमलानेएवंआरोवपतकमरचारीसे जबरनमनचाहापत्रप्रापतकरनेकावजक्रवकराहै। बचावपकनेअपनेवलवखततकरकेपृषठसं. 4 परवलखाहै"18.10.2006 कोरोकड बनदीकेसमरअसवाभाववकरपसेजोरावरघटगईउससेमेरीवचनताइससतर परबढगईवजससेमैपूणरत:
मानवसकरपसेअसंतरवलतहोगरा, एकतरफघटे
4/8 रावरकोपूराकरनादूसरीओरसंभाववतवनषकलंवकतसेवापरप्रवतकूलअसरका खतरा, दोनोहीवससवतकरछइसतरहबनगईमैहतासहोगराऔरराखा प्रबनधकनेजैसावडकटेरनवदरामैवलखतागरारारदइसवलएवकमेरीनौकरी परइसकादरषप्रभावनपडेसासहीमैपूरीतरहअसहारएवंभरभीतसा।" आगे रहभीवलखागराहैवकरवदआरोवपतकमरचारीकीनीरतअनरसाहोतीतो रारदवहर. 172000/- जैसीबडीरकमकाभरपाईनहीकरता। प्रसतरतप्रदरीर, गवाहोकेबरानएवंदोनोपकोकेवलवखततकरकेसावधानीपूवरक अधररनएवंववशलेषणसेसपषटहोताहैवकवदनांक18.10.2006 कोआरोवपत कमरचारीनेभौवतकरपमेउपलबधनगदीरेषसेर. 172000/- कीअवधकरावर वदखातेहरएकैरमेमो(प्र. प्रद.- 4) तैरारवकराऔरउसपरअपनाहसताकरकरने केउपरानतउसेदूसरेहसताकरकतारर्रीभारतभूषण, प्रबनधककोसरपूदरवकरा। नकदीरेषकेभौवतकसतरापनकेदौराननोटोकेवगनतीकेक्रममेर्रीभारत भूषणदारार. 172000/- कीकमीपाईगईजोवकर. 500/- औरर.100/- के मूलरवगरकेनोटोमेसीअतःप्रबनधकदाराप्र.प्रद. 4 परहसताकरनहींवकरा गरा।इससंबंधमेपूछताछकरनेपरआरोवपतकमरचारीदारामौवखकववलवखत (प्र. प्रद. 7 एवम8) मेबतारागरावकउसनेएकग्राहककोर.172000/- की रावरदीहैजो4 बजेतकलौटानेकाआशवासनवदरापरनतरपहरँचारानही।परन:
आरोवपतकमरचारीकेअनररोधपरर्रीभारतभूषण, प्रबनधकदारावदएगएचेक कीरावरसेर. 172000/- कीकमीकीभरपाईकरनेकेउपरानतदूसराकैरमेमो (प्र.प्रद. 5) तैरारवकरागरावजसपरदोनोचाभीधारकदाराहसताकरकरकैर बनदवकरागरा।इसप्रकाररहसपषटहोताहैवकआरोवपतकमरचारीदाराबैक वनवधकादरवनरोजनवकरागराएवंप्र. प्रद.- 4 कोतैरारकरतथरकोछरपानेका प्ररासवकरागरा। इसआरोपकेसंदभरमेबचावपककेवलवखततकरमेकहीकैरमेपाईगईकभीको कारवनषपादनकेदौरानअसवभाववकरपसेघटीरावरबताईगईहैतोकहीइसे वलवपकीरभूलबतारागराहै।सासहीरहभीवलखागराहैवककमीकीरावर कीभरपाईउसीवदनआरोवपतकमरचारीदाराकरदीगई।इसतरहबचावपकके वलवखततकरमेउललेवखतबातेपरसपरववरोधीहै। बचावप्रवतवनवधदाराप्रबनधनगवाह1 एवं2 काववसतृतप्रवतपरीकणवकरा गरापरनतरआरोपकाखंडनकमरचारीदारानहींवकराजासका।बचावपककारह तकरवकपवरवससवतववरेषमेवरीरप्रबनधककेदवाबपरआरोवपतकमरचारीदारा वलवखतरपमेपत्रवदरागरारहसवीकारनहींप्रतीतहोताकरोवकप्रदान गवाह- 2 नेप्रवतपरीकणप्रशनसं.
17 केउतरदारासपषटवकराहैवकआरोवपत कमरचारीनेप्रपद- 7 कोसवरंअपनेहसतवलवपमेसववववेकसेवलखा।सासही प्र. ग.- 2 दाराप्रवतपरीकणप्रशनसं. 15 केउतरसेरहभीसपषटहोताहैवक आरोवपतकमरचारीतनावकीवससवतमेनहींसे।बचावपककेवलवखततकरमेभी कैरमेपाईगईर.172000/- कीकमीएवंउसकीभरपाईकोअप्रतरकरपसे सवीकारवकरागराहै। उपररकततथरोकेआलोकमेआरोपसंखरा1 सावबतहरआ। आरोपसंखया 2 "Sri. Thakur borrowed cash from Sri. Bharat Bhushan. ABM. Pusafarm from his centconvenient a/c and deposited the amount and cash count be closed on 18.10.2006".
5/8 उपररकतआरोपकोसावबतकरनेकेवलएप्रबनधनप्रवतवनवधनेप्रबनधनप्रदर 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 एवं10 प्रसतरतवकरा।प्रबनधनप्रवतवनवधनेआरोपके समसरनमेप्र. प्रद. 7 एवं8 जोवकआरोवपतकमरचारीवजसमेआरोवपतकमरचारी दारार.
दारासववलवखतआवेदनपत्रहै, मेववणरततथरोकावजक्रवकरा 172000/- कीरावर, 4 बजेतकरपरालौटादेनेकेआशवासनपर, एकग्राहकको वदएजाने, रपरानहीलोटानेएवंइससमसराकेहलकरनेहेतरराखाप्रबनधकसे अनररोधएवंरपराकलतकलौटादेनेकाउललेखहै। प्रबंधनप्रवतवनवधदाराआरोपकेसमसरनमेप्र.ग. 1 केमरखरपरीकणप्रशनसं एवं20 केउतरकाभीसंदभरवदरागराहैवजसमेप्र.ग. 1 नेप्र. प्रद. 7 एवं8 केववषरवसतरकोबतलाराहैजोउपरोकतववणरततथरोकेअनरकूलहै।आगे प्रबनधनगवाह1 नेपरनःपरीकणप्रशनसं. 1 केउतरमेभीबतारावकवदनांक 18.10.2006 कोरोकडवमलानकेसमरर172000/- रोकडमेकमीपाईगईओर प्रधानखजांबीकेअनररोधपरप्रबनधकनेकमीरावरकीभरपाईहेतरअपने सेनटकमेवनएनटखातास. 454 परर. 172000/- काचेकवनगरतवकराप्रबनधन प्रवतवनवधनेआरोपकोवसदकरनेहेतरप्र. ग. 2 दारामरखरपरीकणप्रशनसं4 एवं6 केउतरकोभीसंदवभरतवकराहैवजससेअनरबातोकेअलावारहभीसपषट होताहैवकआरोवपतकमरचारीनेर्रीभारतभूषणप्रबनधक, (प्र.ग. 2) सेकैर राटरजरावरकीवरवससाकरनेकाअनररोधवकराऔरउसीआलोकमेप्रबनधकने अपनेसेनटकनभेवनएनटखातासेर. 172000/ मनोजकरमारठाकररकोउधारवदए औरउसीसेजोकैरराटरजहरआसाउसकीभरपाईकीगई।उसकेबादनोटके सहीमूलरवगरसासदूसराकैरमेमोवलखकरदोनोचाभोधारकदाराकैरकोबनद वकरागरा।गरखरपरी.
प्रशन6 केउतरमेप्र. ग. 2 नेसपषटवकरावकभरगतान सवरपउनहेकरछनहींवमला।चेककार. 172000/- उनहोनेर्रीमनोजकरमार ठाकरर, प्रधानखजांचीकोउधारवदरावजससेवदनांक18.10.06 कीकैरकेराटरज कीभरपाईकीजासकी।प्र. ग. 2 नेप्रवतपरीकणप्रशनसंखरा12, 13, एवं14 एवं28 केउतरदाराभीउपरोकततथरोकीपरवषटकी।प्रबनधनप्रवतवनवधने आरोपकेसमसरनमेप्र. प्रद. 6 जोवकर्रीभारतभूषणप्रबनधककेसेनट कनभेवनरएनटखातासं. 454 काचेकसं. 001101 र.172000/- वदनांक18.10.2006 है, कोभीप्रसतरतवकरावजसकेसंबंधमेप्र.ग. 1 र्रीबीकेपोदार, वरीर प्रबनधकनेमरखरपरीकणप्रशनसं23 एवंपरनःपरीकणप्रशनसंखरा1 केउतर मेबतारावकआरोवपतकमरचारीकेआग्रहपरर्रीभारतभूषणप्रबनधकने अपनेसेनटकनभेवनएनटखातासंखरा454 परउकतचेकवनगरतवकरावजससेवदनांक 18 10.2006 कोकैरराटरजकीरावरकोसमारोवजतवकराजासकासबनधनमाह र्रीभारतभूषणप्रबनधकनेमरखरपरीकणप्रशनसं6 एवंप्रवतपरीकणप्रशन सं.
12 केउतरदाराभीउकततथरोकोसमपरषटवकरा। बचावपकदाराप्रबनधनगवाह1 एवं2 केप्रवतपरीकणकेदौरानराअनरवकसी अवभलेखदाराउकतआरोपकाखंडननहींवकराजासका।बचावपकनेअपने वलवखततकरमेभीइसआरोपकेखंडनहेतरकोईसमीचीनतकरप्रसतरतनहीकर पाएबवलकवलवखततकरकेपृषठसं. 4 पररहववणरतवकराहैवकरवदआरोवपत कमचाररीकीनीरतअनरसाहोतीतोरारदवहर. 172000/ जैसीबडीरकमका भरपाईनहीकरताराइसकादोषारोपणअनरसमबवनधतअवधकारीपरभीकरता, परनतरघटेरावरकीपूरीवजममेदारीअपनेउपरलेकरतसाउसकीभरपाईकरबैक केआवसरकवहतोकोसररवकतरखागरा। प्रसतरतप्रबनधनप्रदरोर, गवाहोकेबरानएवंदोनोपकोकेवलवखततकोरंके ववशलेषणसेरहसपषटहोताहैवकआरोवपतकमरचारीकेअनररोधपरर्रीभारत भूषणप्रबनधकनेअपनेसेनटकनभेवनएनटखातापरकाटेगएर.
6/8 केरपमेआरोवपतकमरचारीकोर. 172000/- काउधारवदरावजसकीरावरका समारोजनकरतेहरएकेरराटरजर. 17/2000/- कीभरपाईके सासवद.
18.10.2006 कोकैरबनद उपररकततथरोकेआलोकमेआरोपसंखरा2 साववतहरआ। संकेपमेआरोपोकेसंदभरमेमेरावनषकषरइसप्रकारहै आरोपसं. 1 सावबतहरआ आरोपसं2 सावबतहरआ ववभागीरजॉचकारवाहीकीमूलप्रवतआपकोपूवरमेहीप्रेवषतहै।एतद्दारा आपकोसभीप्रबनधनप्रदर, प्रबनधनप्रवतवनवधकावलवखततकरएवंबचाव प्रवतवनवधकावलवखततकरप्रेवषतवकराजारहाहै।कृपरापावतीसूवचतकरने काकषटवकराजार। ववशवासभाजन, sd/- (एस. एन. झा) जाँचअवधकारी प्रवत1.
केत्रीरकारारलर, डी.ए.डबलू.
दरभंगा। 2.
आंचवलककारारलर, डी.ए.डबलू.
मरजफफरपरर। 3.
केनद्रीरकारारलर, सतकरताववभाग, मरमबई।"
4. Departmental inquiry was concluded in imposition of penalty of dismissal from service on 16.06.2007 and it was subject matter of appeal before the appellate authority in which also the petitioner had suffered an order on 29.12.2008. Hence the present writ petition.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that having regard to the alleged charges, imposition of penalty would be too harsh. It is submitted that he has rendered 14 years of service. During his entire service, it is an isolated case, therefore,
7/8 imposition of penalty of dismissal from service and its confirmation would be harsh.
6. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents resisted the aforesaid contention and submitted that there is no infirmity in imposition of penalty and its confirmation by the appellate authority. The alleged charges are relating to temporary misappropriation of cash of Rs. 1,72,000/-. The charges are that petitioner had lent the amount to one customer Sudhir Kumar Singh on the assurance that he would return the alleged amount at 4:00 pm on 18.10.2006, the date on which the alleged transaction has taken place. Thereafter, petitioner has borrowed money from bank officials and remitted. In other words, it is temporary misappropriation. The petitioner was working with the Central Bank of India. The Bank is dealing with various money transactions with the customers. The petitioner has temporarily misappropriated customers' money, who have trusted the respondent - Central Bank of India. Therefore, it is serious charge which has been proved in the inquiry. Hence no interference is called for.
7. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties.
8. Perusal of the charge memo, it is crystal clear that it is a serious charge of temporary misappropriation of respondent
8/8 Bank/customers' money. In fact, the petitioner has admitted relating to temporary misappropriation in his memorandum of appeal in para 4, it is stated that "He never denied the fact that cash handed over by him at the closing hour on 18.10.2006 was short by 1,72,000/- and he immediately made good the loss. This is the single incident of shortage of cash in his entire service life."
9. In the light of the aforesaid admission, the petitioner has not made out a case so as to interfere with the order of the disciplinary/appellate authority. Moreover imposition of penalty of dismissal with reference to the alleged proved charges is not disproportionate, since the allegation of misappropriation money and it is in respect of financial institution like Bank.
10. Accordingly, petition stand dismissed (P. B. Bajanthri, J) GAURAV S./- AFR/NAFR CAV DATE Uploading Date 17.02.2023 Transmission Date