Narayan Singh vs State Of Chhattisgarh & Ors.

Hon’ble Shri Bibhu Datta Guru, Judge

By the present writ petition, the petitioner seeks a direction to respondent No. 2 to pass a final, reasoned and speaking order in the departmental inquiry initiated against him vide Annexure P/3 and to communicate the same to the petitioner within a stipulated time period, in accordance with law.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was working as a Revenue Inspector (Nazul) in the office of the Collector, Land Records Branch, Ambikapur, District Surguja, and was placed under suspension vide order dated 28.03.2024 (Annexure P/2) in connection with an FIR registered against him and other persons. It is submitted that departmental proceedings were initiated against the petitioner vide charge-sheet dated 01.05.2024, and the inquiry report was submitted on 16.08.2024. Thereafter, the petitioner submitted his representation against the proposed major penalty on 15.01.2025; however, despite the lapse of considerable time, no final order has been passed by the disciplinary authority, and his suspension has also not been reviewed. Learned counsel further submits that despite the petitioner's representation dated 30.06.2026 seeking expeditious conclusion of the departmental proceedings, no action has been taken by the respondent authorities. He, therefore, submits that the petition may be disposed of with a direction to the disciplinary authority/respondent No. 2 to conclude the departmental inquiry by passing a final order on the basis of the inquiry report submitted by the enquiry officer.

On the other hand, learned State counsel submits that, since the petitioner has made a limited prayer for conclusion of the departmental inquiry, if the inquiry report has already been submitted to the disciplinary authority, the disciplinary authority shall pass a final order in accordance with law, on the basis of the inquiry report, within a stipulated period.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the pleadings as well as the documents appended to the writ petition.

Considering the limited prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioner and taking into account the submission made by learned State counsel, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the disciplinary authority/ respondent No. 2, to conclude the pending departmental proceedings against the petitioner by passing a final order, in accordance with law, on the basis of the inquiry report, if already submitted, preferably within a period of 45 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

With the aforesaid direction, the writ petition is disposed of.