- (1.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Shri R.K.Singh holding brief of Shri S.K.Singh, learned counsel for the respondents.
(2.) The petitioner was appointed as clerk in the Punjab National Bank and at the relevant time was computerized teller operator (CTO) at Branch Office, Gahji. The petitioner was chargesheeted on 15.2.2006 for alleged lapses committed by him while working in the Branch Office, Durgaganj. The charges briefly is as follows: (i) On 14.2.2005, petitioner passed withdrawal form for Rs.3800/- of Smt.Dulari Devi account holder of SB Account No.732 despite the fact that Smt.Dulari Devi had already expired prior to that date. (ii) On 06.01.2004, petitioner unauthorizedly passed an amount of Rs.42,699/- being proceeds of FDR with interest in respect of FDR No.986858 Branch S.No.2003005 issued in MBFD Scheme A/c No.1490 of Smt. Chunni Devi for Rs.40,000, due on 10.3.2005, and credited the proceeds to his own SB Account No.4063 by transfer. (iii) On 27.01.2004, petitioner unauthorizedly passed MBFD of Rs.30,000/- having A/c No.1339 Receipt No.96646, Branch S.No.20020050, which was pledged with the bank by Shri Lal Bahadur Singh, against the loan taken by him under Demand Loan A/c No.DL/fd/66, and an amount of Rs.34597/-, on account of proceeds of this FDR along with the interest, was unauthorisedly credited in his SB Account No.4063 despite the fact that an amount of Rs.8644/- (with interest) was yet to be recovered in respect of the said Demand Loan Account. (iv) Between 30.6.2003 and 13.8.2005, amount of Rs.90,000/- (single cash entry), Rs.3,24,000/- (26 cash entries) &Rs.74,800/- ( (10 cash entries) have been deposited in his SB A/c No.4063, CD Account No.78 & 71 at BO: Durgaganj, which are beyond his known source of income.
(3.) In the departmental inquiry the petitioner was given opportunity to lead evidence and after completing the enquiry, the Inquiry Officer submitted an inquiry report holding charge no. 1, 2 & 3 proved and charge no. 4 was not proved, the inquiry report was served upon the petitioner along with the show cause notice dated 26.12.2007 proposing punishment of removal from service with superannuation benefits.;