'Employee can know rules of disciplinary action'

New Delhi, Jun 30: The Central Information Commission has ruled that an employee against whom disciplinary action was in progress cannot be denied information relating to the ground on which proceedings have been initiated.

The Commission said such an information would help the aggrieved person in defending his or her case.

The CIC ruling came on an application of one Krishna Kumar, an employee of the Post and Telegraph Department, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.

The appellant has been placed under suspension by the Department of Posts, Moradabad and a disciplinary enquiry is in progress.

In this backdrop, he had made certain queries and asked for copies of documents on the basis of which he has been suspended and disciplinary action has been initiated against him.

However, the Department refused to provide him the documents on the grounds of which disciplinary action was contemplated, following which, Mr Kumar approached the CIC.

The Commission said, ''Under the service rules, disciplinary proceedings are quasi-judicial functions. There is, therefore, no reason why the access to relevant documents would not be provided to the appellant to ensure natural justice.'' It directed the CPIO to ensure that the relevant documents, on the basis of which the charges are framed, are provided to the appellant at appropriate stage so as to enable him to effectively defend his case.

UNI