R.Madhavi v. The Superintending Engineer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 12.10.2023
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Mrs. JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN W.P.
No.29620 of 2023 R.Madhavi ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The Superintending Engineer (South), Enquiry Officer, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Chintadripet, Chennai - 600 002.
2. The Vigilance Officer/General Manager, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Chintadripet, Chennai - 600 002.
... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to conclude the disciplinary proceedings initiated under Charge Memo No.CMWSSB/ P&A/VC2/24193/2013 dated 12.11.2014 within a time limit fixed by this Court.
1 / 6
For Petitioner : Mr.P.B.Suresh Babu For Respondents : Mr.Krishna Ravindran Standing Counsel for R1 & R2
ORDER
The petitioner has filed this Writ Petition seeking to direct the respondents to conclude the disciplinary proceedings initiated under Charge Memo No. CMWSSB/ P&A/VC2/24193/2013 dated 12.11.2014 .
2. The petitioner was appointed as an Assistant Engineer in the year 1991and thereafter, she was promoted to the post of Assistant Executive Engineer. According to the petitioner, she has been falsely implicated in Crime No.5 of 2013 under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Later, a charge memo was issued to her in Charge Memo No.CMWSSB/P&A/VC2/24193/2013 dated 12.11.2014.
3. The case in Crime No.5 of 2013 was taken up for trial in C.C.No.2 of 2015 on the file of the Special Court for the Cases under Prevention of Corruption Act, Chennai and the trial Court by an order dated 24.04.2023, had acquitted the petitioner. Even thereafter, the 2 / 6
disciplinary proceedings initiated by the respondents as against the petitioner has not yet been concluded. As on date, the disciplinary proceedings is still pending without any progress, hence, the petitioner approached this Court by filing the present writ petition with the aforesaid prayer.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that it would be suffice to direct the respondents that the disciplinary proceedings initiated under Charge Memo No. CMWSSB/ P&A/VC2/24193/2013 dated 12.11.2014 may be concluded and pass appropriate orders thereon within a time frame fixed by this Court.
5. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, submitted that the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the petitioner will be considered on merits and appropriate orders will be passed thereon within a period of three months.
3 / 6
6. Recording the submissions so made by the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents and also considering the limited prayer sought for herein, this Court, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter inclined to dispose of the this Writ Petition with a direction to the respondents to conclude the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the petitioner under Charge Memo No. CMWSSB/ P&A/VC2/24193/2013 dated 12.11.2014 within a period of fourteen weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
7. With the above direction, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.
12.10.2023 Index : Yes / No Speaking / Non-speaking ham 4 / 6
To
1. The Superintending Engineer (South), Enquiry Officer, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Chintadripet, Chennai - 600 002.
2. The Vigilance Officer/General Manager, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Chintadripet, Chennai - 600 002.
5 / 6
V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN , J.
ham W.P No.29620 of 2023 12.10.2023 6 / 6