Delay condoned.
Leave granted.
This matter pertains to the punishment awarded to the appellant herein who was found
guilty in the departmental proceedings. It is an admitted position that departmental action was
taken in case of all Special Officers of the Co-operative Societies. As many as 47 such Special
Officers were involved and all of them were found guilty. The present appellant, however, faces the
extreme penalty of dismissal. Therefore, we had suggested Mr.Shanmuga Sundaram, learned
senior counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent to enquire as to what kind of punishment was
given to the other Special Officers who were similarly circumstanced as the appellant. He very
fairly gives us a table which shows that excepting the appellant all the other Special Officers have
been dealt with not so severely and the only punishment which has been awarded to them was
stoppage of increment for two years or six months without cumulative effect. We feel that under
these circumstances, the appellant's punishment should also be brought down to the stoppage of
increment for six months without cumulative effect. The appeal is accordingly disposed of with the
direction that instead of dismissal, the appellant shall be given the punishment of stoppage of
increment for six months without cumulative effect.
We appreciate the fairness of Mr.Shanmuga Sundaram, learned senior counsel appearing on
behalf of the respondent.
However, this shall be treated as a special case.
( H.L.DATTU )