Arjun Yadav vs State Bank Of India

Heard learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Counsel for the respondent Bank.

The claim of the petitioner is for treating the period between 30.6.2003, i.e. the date on which he was dismissed on account of conviction in a criminal case, up till 25.2.2013 as the period in service. The claim has been made since subsequent upon his acquittal in the criminal case at the appellate stage the petitioner was reinstated with effect from 25.2.2013.

The respondent Bank has filed a counter affidavit. Reliance is placed on a decision of the Apex Court in the case of Union of India & ors. vs. Jaipal Singh reported in (2004) 1 SCC 121 as also the judgment in the case of State Bank of India & anr. vs. Mohammed Abdul Rahim reported in (2013) 11 SCC 67.

Counsel for the Bank has rightly placed reliance on the said two judgments as the respondent Bank cannot in any manner be found at fault for keeping the petitioner out of service as he was out of service on account of conviction in the criminal proceeding for which the employer was not at fault.

Drawing attention of the Court towards para 12 of the judgment in the case of Mohammed Abdul Rahim (supra) it is submitted by the petitioner's Counsel that since the petitioner upon his acquittal in the criminal appeal on 27.8.2012 had already lodged his claim for reinstatement on 18.9.2012 the respondent cannot in any way be justified in keeping the petitioner out of service up till 25.2.2013. Between 18.9.2012 and 25.2.2013 there was no conviction justifying petitioner's removal from service. Since the respondent Bank has delayed reinstatement of the petitioner by about five months after the petitioner lodged his claim on 18.9.2012 this Court would observe that the petitioner cannot be denied the benefit of service subsequent to 18.9.2012 i.e. the date on which he had submitted his claim for reinstatement. In case the petitioner has not been granted benefit of service with effect from 18.2.2012 this Court would direct the respondent Bank to treat the petitioner as reinstated with effect from 18.9.2012 and ensure that due consequential benefits are granted to the petitioner.

The writ petition stands allowed.