- (1.) In brief the facts of the present appeal are narrated as under:-
(2.) The respondent was Manager-in-Charge of Branch Office of Bhagalpur and Kharagpur of the appellant bank. While performing his official duties, according to appellant, he committed misconduct under the Punjab and Sind Bank Officers Employees (Conduct) Regulations of 1981 particularly under Regulation 3(1) and 3(2) read with Regulation 24 of the Regulations. The gist of the charges in the departmental enquiry initiated against the respondent is, through a middleman named Sukumar Singh, during the year 1983-84, the respondent Manager disbursed 99 loans sponsored by SC/ST Development and Finance Corporation, Midnapore in a fraudulent manner by grabbing large chunk of loan amount which is evident from numerous documents wherein interpolations are made. Even the names of the sponsored persons sent by the aforesaid Corporation were challenged.
(3.) The charges came to be denied by the respondent. By order dated 05.12.1998, the disciplinary authority rejected the report of Enquiry Officer and ordered to conduct a de novo enquiry in the above charges. This came to be challenged by the respondent Manager. This came to be confirmed by order dated 16.01.1999. The second Enquiry Officer submitted enquiry report on 28.9.1999 to the disciplinary authority. Delinquent employee was permitted to submit his representation. Ultimately, disciplinary authority imposed punishment against the writ petitioner awarding penalty of compulsory retirement from service of the bank.;