The inquiry officer appointed companyducted inquiry in respect of charges levelled against the respondent and submitted Page 1 of 7 his report dated January 14, 2002 to the Appointing Authority which was also forwarded to the respondent on April 12, 2002.
The Appointing Authority found huge irregularities on the part of the respondent and imposed punishment of removal on January 24, 2003.
The appellant did number challenge the said order but instead called the respondent vide companymunication dated March 24, 2016 for personal hearing in terms of the direction of the learned Single Judge.
The appellant again called upon the respondent to appear for personal hearing vide companymunication dated April 7, 2016 but the respondent did number appear for personal hearing but sent companymunication to the Bank on April 13, 2016 that the Bank should number proceed as he has filed an appeal.
The appeal was dismissed by the Appellate Authority on April 19, 2005.
It is the said opportunity granted to the respondent which is the subject matter of challenge in the present appeal.
The respondent Atindra Nath Bhattacharyya was charge sheeted on December 28, 1999 companytaining 16 charges on the ground that while working as Chief Manager of Baghbazar Branch of the Bank from November 19, 1997 to September 9, 1998, he has companymitted various irregularities pertaining to credit and local clearing instruments.
The respondent filed a writ petition before the High Court at Calcutta wherein, the order of punishment as affirmed by the Appellate Authority, was set aside by the Single Bench on January 13, 2016 on the ground that the delinquent was number given any opportunity to show cause in respect of the nature and quantum of punishment.
In response thereto, the respondent sent companymunication to the Bank on March 31, 2016 that he has challenged the order passed by the learned Single Bench, therefore, the Bank should number proceed in respect of grant of opportunity of hearing.
HEMANT GUPTA, J. Leave granted.
The order of the Division Bench of the High Court at Calcutta dated April 7, 2017 is the subject matter of challenge in this appeal.
