HC to Rlys:reinstate employee, guilty of misappropiating Rs 83

New Delhi, Aug 18 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today directed the Northern Railways to reinstate its employee, who was asked to take compulsory retirementon on charges of misappropriating Rs 83 from the cash department four years ago.

Justices Madan B Lokur and J R Midha upheld the Central Adminstrative Tribunal(CAT)'s order, which had directed to reinstate the senior booking clerk Mohan Lal, stating that a shortage of Rs 83 in funds is no offence and it does not show the guilty intention of the employee.

The Bench directed the Northern Railways to reinstate Lal forthwith, as this was no ground for removal of any employee from the services.

In 2004, when Mohan Lal was working as a senior booking clerk at New Delhi Railway Station, the total cash was found to be short of Rs 83. After a departmental inquiry, Lal was asked to take compulsary retirement. Then Lal approached CAT, which ordered his reinstatement in the service.

In 2006, Mohan Lal was searched after office hours and Rs 1000 was found in his pocket, and it was assumed that he misappropriated the office money. He was again asked to take compulsory retirement.

He approached CAT again which reinstated him once more.

The Railways approached Delhi High Court against CAT's order.

High Court retained CAT's order and directed the Railways not to to waste time on flimsy grounds and reinstate the employee forthwith, as there seemed to be no proof of mala fide intention of the emloyee.

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