By consent, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal.
2. The petitioner, while working as Cook in the Central Prison, Coimbatore was placed under suspension by the second respondent, vide proceedings dated 08.12.2016 under Rule 17(e) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules on the ground that he has received a sum of Rs.4,000/- from one Thiru.Shanjahan, friend of Convict No.76464, S.Nagendran, S/o.Subramani, with an assurance to remit Rs.3,000/- to the PCP account of the above convict and Rs.1,000/- to carryout the above said work.
3. Mr.R.Sankarasubbu, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that with regard to procuring cooking materials in the prison, the petitioner has committed certain irregularities and only in order to punish him, the above said false complaint came to be lodged, based on which he was placed under suspension and would further submit that the petitioner was also issued with a charge memo dated 28.12.2016 and thereafter, the petitioner has also submitted his representation dated 30.12.2016 praying for revocation of the order of suspension and in the light of the above facts and circumstances pleaded, prays for appropriate orders.
4. Per contra, Mr.R.A.S.Senthilvel, learned Additional Government Pleader, who accepts notice on behalf of the respondents 1 and 2, would submit that based on the statement of the witnesses only, the petitioner was placed under suspension and since the charge memo has already been issued, disciplinary proceedings will be expedited and concluded as expeditiously as possible.
5. This Court has considered the rival submissions and also perused the entire materials placed before it.
6. The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Ajay Kumar Choudhary v. Union of India and Another [(2015) 7 SCC 291] has considered the case of prolonged suspension and directed that currency of a suspension order should not extend beyond three months, if within this period the memorandum of charges/charge-sheet is not served on the delinquent officer/employee and if memorandum of charges/charge-sheet is served, a reasoned order must be passed for extension of suspension.
7. In the light of the ratio laid down in the above cited judgment, this Court permits the petitioner to submit a fresh representation to the respondents 1 and 2 praying for revocation/reviewing the order of suspension, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order along with a copy of this order and the second respondent, on receipt of the same, is directed to consider and dispose of the said representation and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of four weeks thereafter and communicate the decision taken, to the petitioner.
8. This Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
03.02.2017 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No jvm Note: Issue order on 07.02.2017 To
1.The Additional Director General of Police & Inspector General of Prisons, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.
2.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Coimbatore.
M.SATHYANARAYANAN, J.
jvm W.P.No.2713 of 2017 03.02.2017