Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for the Kerala State Electricity Board, apart from perusing the record. Since the issue lies in a narrow compass, this Court proposes to dispose of the writ petition at the admission stage itself. 2. Briefly stated, the petitioner, an Assistant Engineer working in the respondent Board, was placed under suspension through Ext.P1 order, pending the departmental proceedings initiated against the petitioner. The disciplinary proceedings are said to have been initiated in response to a vigilance case involving an allegation of receiving bribe, apart from other charges. After the issuance of Ext.P2 charge memo and the reply thereto submitted by the petitioner in Ext.P3, the disciplinary proceedings are stated to be in progress. Questioning the justification of placing him under suspension, the petitioner has filed Ext.P4 statutory appeal before the 3rd respondent, who is yet to dispose it of. Complaining of delay W.P.(C) No. 27448/2014 -2-
in the disposal of Ext.P4 statutory appeal, the petitioner filed the present writ petition.
3. The learned Standing Counsel for the respondent Corporation, having initially addressed the issue on merits contending that the petitioner cannot take an exception to the suspension which is a necessary concomitant to disciplinary proceedings, has submitted that the appellate authority will be taking every steps to dispose of Ext.P4 statutory appeal at the earliest.
In the facts and circumstances, having regard to the respective submissions of the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, this Court disposes of the writ petition with a direction to the 3rd respondent to consider Ext.P4 appeal in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders thereon, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. No order as to costs.
sd/- DAMA SESHADRI NAIDU, JUDGE.
rv W.P.(C) No. 27448/2014 -3-