- (1.)I have heard the learned counsel for the parties on the admission of this petition. I have also considered the objections filed by one of the respondents on affidavit.
(2.)THE facts of the case briefly stated are that the petitioner joined as ËœTehsil Supply Officerâ„¢ Banihal, hereinafter referred to as "TSO", in October, 1993. In March, 1994 during the course of physical verification of Government Food Store Uchral Centre, by Assistant Director Food and Supplies, Kathua, the petitioner as TSO concerned suspected shortages in the said store and therefore addressed a letter to Assistant Director Food and Supplies, Doda, asking him to request the Director Food and Supplies to depute a special audit party to workout the actual shortage, Shri Devi Chand was the concerned store -keeper who was posted there in the year 1990. In the said letter, the petitioner has mentioned that the store -keeper has produced stock, receipt issue register maintained by him from September, 1993 and has not produced the registers for the period before September, 1993, which has created a suspicion in his mind about the conduct of the store -keeper. The TSO had also recommended suspension of the concerned store -keeper.
(3.)CONSEQUENT upon the petitionerâ„¢s letter an audit party came on the spot, conducted audit inspection of the store, and submitted its report to the Director. In the report, it is stated that Shri Devi Chand, during his posting as store -keeper -cum -Salesman Uchral, Tehsil Banihal, has mis -appropriated huge quantity of stores, cost of which may be exceeding ten lac rupees. In the report it is also stated that had the TSO concerned checked the store, well in time, such huge shortage could have been avoided.
After considering the report of the audit party, the Director referred the matter to the D.I.G. Vigilance Organisation for necessary action under law. He also placed the petitioner under suspension alongwith Devi Chand store -keeper.