The Madras High Court has upheld the stoppage of increment for three years with cumulative effect against a Junior Assistant in the panchayat union office at Kannangudy in Sivaganga district.
Justice D.Hariparanthaman passed the order on a petition by J.Jayaraman.
The charge against Mr.Jayaraman was that as Junior Assistant, he connived with two other officials, a Rural Welfare Officer and a Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, in raising a loan of Rs.3,500 in the name of Perumal for purchasing a pair of bulls and a cart under the Integrated Rural Development Scheme.
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The Commissioner for Disciplinary Proceedings held that the charge was proved. Based upon it, punishment was awarded in February 2002.
In the G.O., the government concluded that the loan must have been raised by the accused officials in connivance with one another by creating false purchase receipts and verification certificate. The official challenged the punishment.
Mr.Justice Hariparanthaman said the disciplinary action against the petitioner was not on the ground that he stood as a guarantor in a loan transaction.
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On the other hand, the allegation was that the petitioner connived with others in sanctioning a loan with respect to buying bulls and a cart.