Awadhesh Kumar Pandey v. Coal India Limited (Cil), Thr. Chairman, Cum Appellate Authority, Kolkata And Another

2026:BHC-NAG:6306-DB 102.wp.3343.2026.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.

WRIT PETITION NO. 3343 OF 2026 Awadhesh Kumar Pandey .Vs.

Coal India Limited and another _______________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders.

and Registrar's Orders.

Mr Pranit Vairagade, Adv h/f. Mr A. M. Chandekar, Advocate for the petitioner/s CORAM : ANIL S. KILOR AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ.

DATED : 23 rd APRIL , 2026 .

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner.

2.

The contention is that the petitioner was working as a 'Senior Manager' in the Western Coalfields Limited. Upon a complaint, the disciplinary inquiry was conducted against the petitioner and on 27/11/2025 the Disciplinary Authority has imposed penalty upon the petitioner thereby reducing him to a lower grade (E-5) for a period of one year without increment of pay.

3.

Being aggrieved by the aforesaid order, the petitioner has immediately filed the departmental appeal challenging the aforesaid order before the Appellate Authority on 26/12/2025.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that even though the appeal was filed on 26/12/2025 and since then almost four months have lapsed, the appellate authority

102.wp.3343.2026.odt has neither even issued notice to the respondents calling upon their say nor even granted a hearing to the petitioner. 5.

It is worth to mention that the penalty imposed upon the petitioner is of one year and already four months have passed.

6.

In view of the above, we pass the following orderi] The respondent No.1-appellate authority is directed to decide the aforesaid appeal filed by the petitioner on 26/12/2025 within a stipulated period of eight weeks from the date of production of order of this court ii] The decision taken thereupon shall be communicated to the petitioner within a period of two weeks from the date of decision.

The writ petition stands disposed of, accordingly. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of. No order as to costs.

[RAJ D. WAKODE, J] [ANIL S. KILOR, J.] Namrata Signed by: Miss Namrata Suryawanshi Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 23/04/2026 18:39:40