Rajendra Prasad Dayma vs The State Of Rajasthan on 28 April, 2026

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    Rajasthan High Court – Jodhpur

    Rajendra Prasad Dayma vs The State Of Rajasthan on 28 April, 2026

    Author: Anand Sharma

    Bench: Anand Sharma

    [2026:RJ-JD:19616]
    
          HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT
                           JODHPUR
                     S. B. Civil Writ Petition No. 439/2023
    
    Rajendra Prasad Dayma S/o Shri Ramnath Dayma, aged about
    53 years, R/o E-2/185, Chhitrakut Yojna, Jaipur.
                                                                               ----Petitioner
                                            Versus
    1.       The     State      of     Rajasthan,            through       the     Secretary,
             Department of Personnel, Government of Rajasthan,
             Secretariat, Jaipur.
    2.       Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Rajasthan, Jaipur.
                                                                           ----Respondents
    
    
    For Petitioner                :     Mr. Manvendra Singh Bhati Advocate.
    For Respondents               :     Mr. Deepak Chandak AAAG for Mr.
                                        B.L. Bhati AAG
                                        Mr. Nitesh Mathur AGC with Mr. Ravi
                                        Shankar Advocate
                                        Mr. Samir Shrimali AGC.
    
    
    
                   HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANAND SHARMA

    Judgment

    Date of conclusion of arguments :: 17.04.2026
    Date on which judgment was reserved :: 17.04.2026
    Whether the full judgment or only
    the operative part is pronounced :: Full Judgment
    Date of pronouncement :: 28.04.2026

    SPONSORED

    1. This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner under

    Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking quashing of the

    departmental enquiry initiated against him vide charge-sheet

    dated 20.07.2021 or in the alternative for a direction to the

    respondents not to proceed with the departmental enquiry during

    the pendency of the criminal proceedings arising out of FIR No.

    94/2020 registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of

    Corruption Act, 1988.

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    2. The facts, in brief, are that the petitioner was posted as

    Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Sirohi and in the course

    of his official duties, he had conducted an enquiry under Section

    57 of the Rajasthan Co-operative Societies Act, 2001 against one

    Shri Rajaram, the then Manager of Rohida Gram Sewa Sahkari

    Samiti Ltd., District Sirohi, on allegations of misappropriation of

    funds. Upon conclusion of the enquiry proceedings, the petitioner,

    by order dated 05.12.2019, held the said Rajaram guilty of

    embezzlement to the extent of Rs. 4,99,336.50 out of the alleged

    amount and directed recovery of the said amount along with

    interest at the rate of 12% per annum. It is the case of the

    petitioner that the said order was duly communicated to Rajaram

    immediately after its passing.

    3. Subsequently, after a lapse of about seven months,

    Rajaram lodged a complaint before the Anti-Corruption Bureau on

    18.06.2020 alleging that the petitioner had demanded a bribe of

    Rs. 10,000/- for providing certified copy of order dated

    05.12.2019 and other documents. Acting upon the said complaint,

    a trap was allegedly laid and FIR No. 94/2020 came to be

    registered on 19.06.2020 for offence under Section 7 of the

    Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The criminal case is stated to

    be pending trial.

    4. Thereafter, the respondents initiated departmental

    proceedings against the petitioner under Rule 16 of the Rajasthan

    Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1958

    (hereinafter to be referred as ‘the Rules of 1958’) and issued

    charge-sheet dated 20.07.2021. The charges in the departmental

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    enquiry are founded upon the same allegations which constitute

    the subject matter of the aforesaid criminal case.

    5. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner has approached this

    Court contending that continuance of the departmental

    proceedings during pendency of the criminal trial would cause

    serious prejudice to him.

    6. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the

    departmental enquiry and the criminal proceedings are based on

    identical facts, allegations and evidence. It is submitted that the

    complainant, witnesses and documents in both proceedings are

    common and the foundation of the charge in both proceedings is

    the alleged demand and acceptance of illegal gratification. It is

    further argued that if the departmental enquiry is allowed to

    proceed, the petitioner would be compelled to disclose his

    defence, which would seriously prejudice his case in the criminal

    trial. Reliance is placed upon the judgment of the Hon’ble

    Supreme Court in Capt. M. Paul Anthony vs. Bharat Gold

    Mines Ltd. & Another,(1999) 3 SCC 679 as well as judgment

    of Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Bhagirath Ram

    vs State of Rajasthan & Others (S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.

    2682/2021 decided on 13.09.2021) to contend that where

    both proceedings are based on identical facts and evidence, it is

    desirable to stay the departmental enquiry till conclusion of the

    criminal case.

    7. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents has

    opposed the writ petition and submitted that the writ petition itself

    is not maintainable as it seeks to challenge a mere charge-sheet.

    It is argued that a charge-sheet does not give rise to a cause of

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    action and ordinarily the High Court should not interfere at such a

    premature stage.

    8. It is further contended that there is no legal bar in

    proceeding simultaneously with departmental and criminal

    proceedings, as both operate in distinct fields with different

    standards of proof. Reliance is also placed upon the decisions of

    the Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of Rajasthan vs. B.K.

    Meena & Others, (1996) 6 SCC 417 and Kendriya Vidyalaya

    Sangathan & Others vs T. Srinivas (2004) 7 SCC 442 to

    submit that simultaneous proceedings are permissible. It is further

    submitted that the petitioner has not even submitted his reply to

    the charge-sheet despite opportunities and, therefore, cannot

    seek indulgence of this Court.

    9. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon

    perusal of record, this court finds that the core question that

    arises for consideration is whether in the facts and circumstances

    of the present case, the departmental enquiry initiated against the

    petitioner deserves to be quashed or stayed during the pendency

    of the criminal proceedings, or not?.

    10. It is well settled that ordinarily a writ petition against a

    charge-sheet is not maintainable as the same does not constitute

    an adverse order. However, this rule is not absolute and is subject

    to well-recognized exceptions, particularly where continuation of

    proceedings would be wholly unjust, oppressive or in violation of

    settled legal principles. In the case of State of Rajasthan vs.

    B.K. Meena & Others (supra), the Hon’ble Supreme Court has

    held as under:

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    “14. It would be evident from the above decisions that each
    of them starts with the indisputable proposition that there is
    no legal bar for both proceedings to go on simultaneously and
    then say that in certain situations, it may not be ‘desirable’,
    ‘advisable’ or ‘appropriate’ to proceed with the disciplinary
    enquiry when a criminal case is pending on identical charges.

    The staying of disciplinary proceedings, it is emphasised, is a
    matter to be determined having regard to the facts and
    circumstances of a given case and that no hard and fast rules
    can be enunciated in that behalf. The only ground suggested
    in the above decisions as constituting a valid ground for
    staying the disciplinary proceedings is that “the defence of
    the employee in the criminal case may not be prejudiced”.
    This ground has, however, been hedged in by providing
    further that this may be done in cases of grave nature
    involving questions of fact and law. In our respectful opinion,
    it means that not only the charges must be grave but that
    the case must involve complicated questions of law and fact.
    Moreover, ‘advisability’, ‘desirability’ or ‘propriety’, as the
    case may be, has to be determined in each case taking into
    consideration all the facts and circumstances of the case. The
    ground indicated in D.C.M. (1960) 3 SCR 227 and Tata Oil
    Mills (1964) 7 SCR 555 is also not an invariable rule. It is
    only a factor which will go into the scales while judging the
    advisability or desirability of staying the disciplinary
    proceedings. One of the contending considerations is that the
    disciplinary enquiry cannot be — and should not be —
    delayed unduly. So far as criminal cases are concerned, it is
    well known that they drag on endlessly where high officials or
    persons holding high public offices are involved. They get
    bogged down on one or the other ground. They hardly ever
    reach a prompt conclusion. That is the reality in spite of
    repeated advice and admonitions from this Court and the
    High Courts. If a criminal case is unduly delayed that may
    itself be a good ground for going ahead with the disciplinary
    enquiry even where the disciplinary proceedings are held
    over at an earlier stage. The interests of administration and
    good government demand that these proceedings are
    concluded expeditiously. It must be remembered that
    interests of administration demand that undesirable elements
    are thrown out and any charge of misdemeanour is enquired
    into promptly. The disciplinary proceedings are meant not
    really to punish the guilty but to keep the administrative
    machinery unsullied by getting rid of bad elements. The
    interest of the delinquent officer also lies in a prompt
    conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings. If he is not guilty
    of the charges, his honour should be vindicated at the earliest
    possible moment and if he is guilty, he should be dealt with
    promptly according to law. It is not also in the interest of
    administration that persons accused of serious misdemeanour
    should be continued in office indefinitely, i.e., for long periods
    awaiting the result of criminal proceedings. It is not in the
    interest of administration. It only serves the interest of the
    guilty and dishonest. While it is not possible to enumerate the
    various factors, for and against the stay of disciplinary
    proceedings, we found it necessary to emphasise some of the
    important considerations in view of the fact that very often
    the disciplinary proceedings are being stayed for long periods
    pending criminal proceedings. Stay of disciplinary
    proceedings cannot be, and should not be, a matter of
    course. All the relevant factors, for and against, should be
    weighed and a decision taken keeping in view the various
    principles laid down in the decisions referred to above.”

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    11. It is equally well settled that there is no absolute legal

    bar to the simultaneous continuation of departmental and criminal

    proceedings, as both operate in distinct spheres, the former being

    governed by service jurisprudence and the latter by penal law.

    However, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in catena of judgments,

    including Capt. M. Paul Anthony (supra) has carved out an

    exception that where both proceedings are based on identical and

    similar set of facts and the evidence in both cases is common, and

    where the charges in the criminal case are of a grave nature

    involving complicated questions of fact and law, it would be

    desirable to stay the departmental proceedings till the conclusion

    of the criminal case. The consistent ratio emerging from the

    aforesaid precedent is that where both the departmental

    proceedings and the criminal case arise out of the same set of

    facts, and the evidence in both proceedings is substantially

    identical, particularly in cases involving serious criminal charges, it

    would not be expedient to permit the disciplinary proceedings to

    continue simultaneously. The underlying rationale is rooted in

    fairness and the need to avoid prejudice to the delinquent

    employee. After analysing so many earlier judgments, in the case

    of Capt. M. Paul Anthony (supra), following principles were laid

    down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court:

    “22. The conclusions which are deducible from various
    decisions of this Court referred to above are:

    (i) Departmental proceedings and proceedings in a criminal
    case can proceed simultaneously as there is no bar in their
    being conducted simultaneously, though separately.

    (ii) If the departmental proceedings and the criminal case
    are based on identical and similar set of facts and the
    charge in the criminal case against the delinquent employee
    is of a grave nature which involves complicated questions of

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    law and fact, it would be desirable to stay the departmental
    proceedings till the conclusion of the criminal case.

    (iii) Whether the nature of a charge in a criminal case is
    grave and whether complicated questions of fact and law are
    involved in that case, will depend upon the nature of
    offence, the nature of the case launched against the
    employee on the basis of evidence and material collected
    against him during investigation or as reflected in the
    charge-sheet.

    (iv) The factors mentioned at (ii) and (iii) above cannot be
    considered in isolation to stay the departmental proceedings
    but due regard has to be given to the fact that the
    departmental proceedings cannot be unduly delayed.

    (v) If the criminal case does not proceed or its disposal is
    being unduly delayed, the departmental proceedings, even if
    they were stayed on account of the pendency of the criminal
    case, can be resumed and proceeded with so as to conclude
    them at an early date, so that if the employee is found not
    guilty his honour may be vindicated and in case he is found
    guilty, the administration may get rid of him at the earliest.”

    12. The Hon’ble Supreme Court emphasised that although

    there is no inflexible rule, it is desirable to stay departmental

    proceedings where the criminal charge is of a grave nature and

    involves complicated questions of fact and law. This principle has

    been consistently reiterated and refined in subsequent decisions of

    Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as of this Court. It has been

    clarified that the gravity of the charge, the nature of evidence, and

    the likelihood of prejudice are determinative factors. Thus, where

    the foundation of both proceedings is identical, courts must be

    cautious in permitting parallel continuation if it would result in

    prejudice to the accused employee.

    13. In the case of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan &

    Others vs T. Srinivas (supra), the Hon’ble Supreme Court, after

    considering the aforesaid cases of Capt. M. Paul Anthony

    (supra) and State of Rajasthan vs. B.K. Meena & Others

    (supra), has laid down the following observations:

    “8. On a reading of M. Paul Anthony case2 it is noted that
    there is consensus of judicial opinion on the basic principle
    that proceedings in a criminal case and departmental
    proceedings can go on simultaneously, however, this Court

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    noticed that certain exceptions have been carved out to the
    said basic principle.

    9. In State of Rajasthan v. B.K. Meena1 this Court held: (SCC
    p. 417)

    “The only ground suggested in the decisions of the Supreme
    Court as constituting a valid ground for staying the
    disciplinary proceedings is that ‘the defence of the employee
    in the criminal case may not be prejudiced’. This ground has,
    however, been hedged in by providing further that this may
    be done in cases of grave nature involving questions of fact
    and law. It means that not only the charges must be grave
    but that the case must involve complicated questions of law
    and fact. Moreover, ‘advisability’, ‘desirability’ or ‘propriety’,
    as the case may be, of staying the departmental enquiry has
    to be determined in each case taking into consideration all
    the facts and circumstances of the case. Stay of disciplinary
    proceedings cannot be, and should not be, a matter of
    course. All the relevant factors, for and against, should be
    weighed and a decision taken keeping in view the various
    principles laid down in the Supreme Court’s decisions.”

    (emphasis supplied)”

    14. Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of

    Bhagirath Ram (supra), after analysing the different judgments

    of Hon’ble Supreme Court, has held as under:

    “19. It is noteworthy that the charge framed in the
    memorandum of charges is nothing but iteration or
    enunciation of the fact that the petitioner was caught red
    handed and is facing the criminal trial for the felony
    punishable under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of
    Corruption Act, 1998.

    20. In the opinion of this Court, it will be impracticable for
    the department to reach a finding because in a bid to prove
    the delinquency, the department will have to summon either
    the prosecution witnesses or the complainant, who are also
    star witnesses in the criminal trial. The fact that the
    petitioner had accepted the illegal gratification will be difficult
    nay impossible to be proved in absence of such witnesses
    and without the incriminating material which would be lying
    in the trial Court. Usually in the cases like the one in hands,
    wherein the Anti Corruption Bureau traps an employee, the
    witnesses and material belong to and remain in custody of
    the investigating agency or in the custody of the Trial Court.

    21. The fact that the petitioner had demanded and accepted
    the amount from the complainant as bribe is a complicated
    question of fact to be determined by the enquiry officer,
    particularly when none of the police personnel were present
    at the time of the incident. Necessary evidence like voice
    recording, the currency notes used/recovered in the trap and
    all other evidence are not in possession of the respondents –
    they have practically no access to the incriminating evidence.

    22. Unless the witnesses are examined – cross-examined
    before the Court, it is very difficult to unearth the facts. Such
    being the position, there is every likelihood that the erring
    officer may get a clean chit in the departmental inquiry in
    spite of the fact that there is cogent oral or occular evidence

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    to prove his guilt or offence. Hence, in the opinion of this
    Court, continuance of the disciplinary inquiry is not
    appropriate.

    23. Even from the petitioner’s perspective, if the inquiry is
    permitted to go on, there is every likelihood that the
    proceedings may be concluded in undue haste being swayed
    by the fact that the petitioner has been framed in anti-
    corruption case. If he is supposed to disclose his defence in
    the departmental proceeding, the prosecution witnesses will
    perhaps be premonished or forewarned and they will be on
    guard to face cross-examination. If the prosecution succeeds
    in its case, and the petitioner is held guilty, the work of the
    inquiry officer will be very easy – the respondents can even
    invoke powers under Article 311 of the Constitution of India
    and take appropriate action. Therefore, it is advisable and
    desirable also, to defer the departmental proceedings.”

    15. Upon examination of material available on record, this

    Court finds that the genesis of criminal proceedings has arisen

    from a complaint came to be submitted by one Shri Rajaram

    Meghwal, who was then working as former Manager of Gram Seva

    Sahkari Samiti Ltd., Rohida, alleging that in connection with the

    decision rendered against him by the Office of the Deputy

    Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Sirohi under Section 57(2) of the

    Rajasthan Co-operative Societies Act, 2001 as well as in relation

    to the audit report of the Rohida Society for the year 2013-14 and

    other documents pertaining to his tenure, he required certified

    copies of the relevant records for the purpose of pursuing his

    appeal before the Cooperative Tribunal, Jodhpur. It was averred

    that despite submission of applications dated 12.02.2020 and

    03.03.2020 before the then Deputy Registrar (the petitioner),

    who, instead of furnishing the certified copies, demanded an illegal

    gratification of Rs. 10,000/-. The complainant further alleged that

    upon meeting the petitioner again on 17.06.2020 and reiterating

    his request, the demand for bribe was repeated, whereafter he

    was constrained to assure arrangement of the said amount. It was

    further stated that certain incomplete documents were handed

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    over to him with an assurance that the remaining documents

    would be supplied upon payment of the demanded amount, and a

    receipt was obtained from him on his application in this regard.

    The complainant asserted that being aggrieved by such illegal

    demand, he approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau with a request

    to take appropriate legal action and to have the Petitioner

    apprehended while accepting the bribe. Thereupon, trap

    proceedings were conducted by the ACB and on the basis of that,

    case was accordingly registered and proceeded further.

    16. After having glimpse of the allegations in criminal

    complaint, when statement of allegations appended to the

    Memorandum and charge sheet dated 20.07.2021 served upon

    the petitioner during disciplinary enquiry were perused, the same

    would reveal that it was alleged against the petitioner, while

    holding the post of Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Sirohi

    as well as additional charge of Liquidator, Apeshwar Credit

    Cooperative Society Ltd., Sirohi, during the period from

    05.03.2019 to 18.06.2020, a complaint came to be lodged against

    him by Rajaram Meghwal before the Anti-Corruption Bureau,

    Jaipur on 18.06.2020. In the said complaint, it was alleged that in

    connection with the decision passed under Section 57(2) of the

    Rajasthan Co-operative Societies Act, 2001 against the

    complainant, as well as the audit report of Rohida Society for the

    year 2013-14 and other relevant records pertaining to the

    complainant’s tenure, the complainant had sought certified copies

    of the necessary documents for the purpose of pursuing his appeal

    before the Cooperative Tribunal, Jodhpur. It is further alleged that

    despite submission of applications dated 12.02.2020 and

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    03.03.2020 before the petitioner, instead of furnishing the certified

    copies in accordance with law, the petitioner demanded illegal

    gratification for the same. On account of such allegation and the

    alleged acceptance of undue advantage, a criminal case came to

    be registered against the petitioner by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

    It is further alleged that being a public servant, the petitioner was

    under a legal obligation to process the applications submitted by

    the complainant and to provide certified copies of the requested

    documents on the basis of records available in his office, in

    accordance with the applicable rules. However, instead of

    discharging his official duties in a lawful manner, the petitioner is

    alleged to have demanded and accepted undue advantage,

    thereby acting in a manner unbecoming of a public servant. It is

    also imputed that on account of the registration of the aforesaid

    criminal case by the Anti-Corruption Bureau pursuant to the

    complaint of the complainant, the image and reputation of the

    department stood tarnished. The petitioner, by allegedly obtaining

    illegal gratification and bringing disrepute to the department, is

    stated to have acted in contravention of the duties expected of a

    public servant and thereby violated Rule 3 of the Rajasthan Civil

    Services (Conduct) Rules, 1971, rendering himself liable for

    disciplinary action.

    17. A comparative analysis of the contents of the criminal

    complaint submitted before the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the

    articles of charge framed in the departmental proceedings leaves

    no manner of doubt that the genesis of both sets of proceedings is

    the same. Both are founded upon the identical incident relating to

    the alleged demand and acceptance of illegal gratification by the

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    petitioner for providing certified copies of documents sought by

    the complainant. The core allegations, the factual foundation, the

    list of witnesses, and the documentary evidence proposed to be

    relied upon in both proceedings substantially overlap and arise out

    of the same transaction. The complainant, the circumstances

    leading to the alleged demand and the sequence of events

    culminating in the registration of the criminal case constitute the

    very basis of the disciplinary action as well. Thus, it is evident that

    not only the origin but also the substance and evidentiary

    foundation of the criminal prosecution and the departmental

    enquiry are common, interlinked and inseparably interlaced.

    18. Applying the aforesaid principles laid down in the above

    referred precedents to the facts of the present case, it is evident

    that the allegations against the petitioner in the departmental

    enquiry as well as in the criminal proceedings emanate from the

    same incident of alleged demand and acceptance of illegal

    gratification. The witnesses, documentary evidence, and the core

    factual matrix in both proceedings are substantially identical. The

    charge pertains to an offence under Section 7 of the Prevention of

    Corruption Act, 1988 which is undoubtedly a serious criminal

    offence involving penal consequences.

    19. In such a situation, if the departmental enquiry is

    permitted to proceed simultaneously, the petitioner would be

    compelled to disclose his defence at a stage prior to the recording

    of evidence in the criminal trial. This would include disclosure of

    his line of defence, cross-examination strategy, and production of

    defence evidence. Such premature disclosure is likely to seriously

    prejudice the petitioner in the criminal proceedings, where the

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    stakes are significantly higher and the consequences more severe,

    including conviction and sentence.

    20. It is settled preposition that criminal proceedings entail

    stricter standards of proof and more serious consequences as

    compared to disciplinary proceedings. Therefore, where the

    defence of the delinquent employee in both proceedings is based

    on the same set of facts and evidence, compelling him to disclose

    his defence in departmental proceedings at an earlier stage may

    result in a situation where the prosecution gains undue advantage

    in the criminal trial. This not only causes serious prejudice but also

    has the potential to result in miscarriage of justice. Consequently,

    in such cases, it would not be in the interest of justice to permit

    the departmental proceedings to continue in parallel, at least till

    the stage of recording of evidence in the criminal case is

    completed.

    21. At the same time, this Court is not inclined to quash the

    charge-sheet altogether, as the respondents would be entitled to

    proceed with the disciplinary proceedings in accordance with law

    upon conclusion of the evidence in criminal trial.

    22. In view of the aforesaid analysis, this Court is of the

    considered opinion that the present case falls within the exception

    carved out by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, warranting interference

    by this Court.

    23. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed in part. The

    respondents are directed to keep the departmental enquiry

    initiated against the petitioner pursuant to charge-sheet dated

    20.07.2021 in abeyance till conclusion of the evidence in criminal

    proceedings arising out of FIR No. 94/2020.

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    24. It is, however, clarified that the respondents shall be at

    liberty to proceed with the departmental enquiry in accordance

    with law after conclusion of the evidence in criminal case.

    25. Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.

    (ANAND SHARMA),J
    MANOJ NARWANI

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