L. Nageswara Rao, J. - (1.) Leave granted. 1. The judgment of the High Court by which the order of dismissal of Respondent No.1 from the service was set aside is the subject matter of this Appeal. Respondent No.1 was appointed as a Meter Reader-cum-Clerk in the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) in the year 1974. He was promoted as a Junior Engineer in the year 1997. On 21.06.2003, Additional Registrar of Enquiries-I, Karnataka Lokayukta, Bangalore framed a charge against the Respondent which is as follows: JUDGEMENT_44_LAWS(SC)9_2019_1.html
(2.) The Respondent submitted his explanation to the charge. After conducting an inquiry, Additional Registrar of Enquiries-I, Karnataka Lokayukta, who was nominated as the Inquiry Officer, held that the charge against Respondent No.1 was proved. The Lokayukta examined the inquiry report and approved the findings of the Inquiry Officer. Having regard to the serious misconduct committed by Respondent No.1, the Lokayukta imposed the penalty of dismissal from service under Clause VIII of Regulation No.9 of Karnataka Electricity Board Employees (Classification, Discipline, Control and Appeal) Regulations, 1987.
(3.) The final notice was issued by the Appellant seeking an explanation from Respondent No.1 as to why the report of the Inquiry Officer should not be accepted. The reply submitted by Respondent No.1 was considered, and by an order dated 23.03.2007, Respondent No.1 was dismissed from service. The said order was affirmed by the Appellant Authority on 24.06.2008. Aggrieved by the order of dismissal from service, Respondent No.1 filed a writ petition in the High Court of Karnataka which was allowed by a learned single Judge by a judgment dated 08.09.2011. The Writ Appeal filed by the Appellant was dismissed by the Division Bench. Dissatisfied with the judgment of the High Court, the Appellant is before this Court.;