Important Judgment of Reported Today on Fraudulent Conduct of Bank Manager (3rd June, 2019) Amaresh Patel LANDMARK JUDGMENT Mon, Jun 03, 2019, at ,08:48 PM Title of the Case – Fraudulent Conduct of Bank Manager Name of the case – Granendra Kumar Dubey v. The Chairman, Punjab National Nank, C.A.J.C. No. 14429 of 2007 Date of Judgment – 30th May, 2019 Judges: Justice Mohit Kumar Shah Subject and sections involved – Conduct of Disciplinary Proceedings Issue: To Quash the order passed by disciplinary committee. Fact of the Case: 21st Dec, 2981, Granendra Kumar joined as Management Trainee in the service of Punjab National Bank at Patna. 1990, promoted to the post of MMGS II Scale at Baikatpur Branch as Branch Manager. 24th Dec, 1999, letter of suspension was issued by Senior Regional Manager in charge of fraudulent activities. It is the case of the Granendra that without either framing any charge or initiating any departmental proceeding against the petitioner herein, the Banking authorities have purportedly conducted an inquiry against the petitioner and lodged an F.I.R. on 22.02.2000 against the Granendra herein and on the same day, he was arrested from his residence and put behind bars, whereafter he remained in custody for about one and a half years i.e. till 02.08.2001 when he was enlarged on bail. Ratio of the case - The Patna High Court relied upon Regional Manager v. U.P.S.R.T.C., Etawah & ors v. Moti Lal & anr, 1996 6 SCC 69 mentioned that he very discipline of an organization more particularly a Bank is dependent upon each of its officers and officers acting and operating within their allotted sphere. Acting beyond one's authority is by itself a breach of discipline and is a misconduct. However, held that the petitioner being the Manager of Baikatpur branch office was required to exercise the highest standards of honesty and integrity and was required to take all possible steps to protect the interest of the Bank and discharge his duties with utmost integrity, honesty, devotion and diligence and do nothing, which was / is unbecoming of a Bank Officer as well as maintain good conduct and discipline, hence, Patna High Court CWJC No.14429 of 2007 dt.30-05-2019 in such a scenario, the charges levelled against the petitioner clearly tell upon his role as a Bank Officer and if the circumstances accompanying the disciplinary proceedings has persuaded the disciplinary authority and the Appellate Authority to dismiss the petitioner from his services, no fault can be found either in the decision making process or the decision itself. This Court further finds that there is no procedural illegality or infirmity, as far as the conduct of disciplinary proceedings in the present case is concerned, hence there is no occasion for the Court to interfere in the matter.