Sudhir Agarwal, J. - (1.) Heard Sri Vijay Gautam, learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the record.
(2.) It is contended that petitioner was placed under suspension by order dated 16.06.2012 and till date no departmental inquiry has been held and in fact even a charge sheet has not been issued to petitioner.
(3.) The order of suspension pending in a contemplated inquiry by itself is not a punishment but in case it is prolonged without completion of inquiry it may become punitive in nature with the passage of time. Whether such a prolonged suspension can be held valid and justified and whether the respondents can be allowed to keep an employee under suspension for an indefinite period is a moot question needs to be answered in this case. The answer is an emphatic no.;