M.Rajeshwari v. The Post Master General
WP NO. 30819 of 2022
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 19-03-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE N. MALA WP NO. 30819 of 2022 M.Rajeshwari W/o. Late. G.Munusamy, Kuppana Gounder Street, Kolathur, Mettur via, Salem District ..Petitioner Vs
1. The Post Master General Office of Post Master General, Western Region , TN, Coimbatore 641 002.
2.The Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices The Office of Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices , Salem East Sub- Division, Salem 636 007.
3. C.Sanjeevi ..Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of Inda, for issuance of writ of mandamus, directing 1 and 2 respondents to expedite and dispose the departmental proceedings in Case No. R (8/A/ 2016 -MAS Memo No. IO/ 01/ 2018 under Rule 14 (CCS- CCA Rules 1965 ) dated 8/10/21 by considering petitioners representation dated 10.02.2020. For Petitioner : Mr. R.Prabakar For Respondents : Mr. R.Subramanian, ACGSC- R1 & R2 R3 - No appearance
O R D E R
Seeking directions to the respondents to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 10.02.2020, the present writ petition is filed.
2.1.The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner personally knew one Sanjeevi, who was working as post master in Surmangalam Post Office, Salem District . The said Sanjeevi informed the petitioner that some of the customers of the post office were in need of hand loan and they were prepared to offer their documents as security for raising the hand loan and to prove his statement, he showed some of KVP Bonds, Postal Life Insurance and other savings bank accout, Recurring Deposit documents of customers of the post office. Thereafter, by furnishing some of the documents as security, he obtained hand loan from the petitioner on several occassions. However, on enquiry, the petitioner came to know that the said Sanjeevi obtained hand loan for himself by producing the documents of the customers of post office.
2.2. The petitioner lodged complaints to the police and postal authorities regarding the fraud committed by the said Sajeevi. Based on the petitioner's complaint, departmental proceedings were initiated by the authorities against the said Sanjeevi in Proceedings No. R(8/A)/2016-MAS in the year 2016. Thereafter, on 07.09.2018, the petitioner received summons from the 2nd respondent to appear before him for giving evidence on 24.09.2018 and 25.09.2018, but the same was postponed by communication dated 17.09.2018 due to administrative reasons. After two years petitioner again received summons from the 2nd respondent on 18.12.2020. The petitioner appeared and gave evidence on 11.01.2021, 12.01.2021, 29.10.2021 and 30.10.2021, and thereafter
there was no progress in the departmental proceedings. 2.3 Since the departmental proceedings were kept pending against the said Sajneevi from the year 2016, the petitioner submitted a representation on 10.02.2020 to the respondents to expedite the proceedings. The said representation was also pending without any action by the authorities concerned. Hence, seeking directions to the respondents to expedite and conclude the departmental proceedings against the said Sanjeevi, the present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner.
3. The respondents 1 & 2 filed counter interalia, stating that the enquiry officer was instructed to complete the enquiry early by hearing continuous sittings.
4. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
5. The prayer in the writ petition is for a mandamus to issue directions to the respondents to expedite and conclude the departmental proceedings based on the represenation submitted by the petitioner. The respondent state in the counter affidavit that the the enquiry was being conducted on day to day basis, as far as possible, by the enquiry officer and the same would be finalised at the earliest.
6. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties concerned and inview of the fact that the departmental proceedings are pending from the year 2016, I am inclined to issue directions to the respondents to expedite the departmental proceedings. Accordingly, the respondents are directed to expedite the departmental proceedings initiated against the said C. Sanjeevi and conclude the same as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
7. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. 19-03-2025 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No ak
To
1. The Post Master General Office of Post Master General, Western Region , Coimbatore 641 002.
2. The Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices The Office of Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices , Salem East Sub- Division, Salem 636 007
N. MALA, J.
ak WP No. 30819 of 2022 19-03-2025