E ANTONYMARY, ASSISTANT (UNDER SUSPENSION), STATE BANK OF INDIA, PALAYAMKOTTAI BRANCH Vs. ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER (ADMINISTRATION), DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY, STATE BANK OF INDIA, AND CHIEF MANAGER, STATE BANK OF INDIA, PALAYAMKOTTAI BRANCH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is an employee of the second respondent bank. She has come forward with the present Writ Petition seeking to restrain the first respondent bank from proceeding with the departmental enquiry pending criminal case.

(2.) In the Writ Petition, notice of motion was ordered on 28.07.2009. Pending the Writ Petition, this Court granted an order of interim stay of the disciplinary proceedings for a period of four weeks. On notice from this Court, the respondents have filed a counter-affidavit dated 29.10.2009. In paragraph No. 7 of the counter-affidavit, it was averred as follows:

(3.) It was also pointed out that pending criminal trial is not a bar for conducting departmental enquiry and bipartite settlement provides for such a procedure to be followed.