Jerath8217;s plea declined

CHANDIGARH, Dec 28: Suspended UT chief engineer K K Jerath8217;s interim relief plea, for restraining UT Administration from passing final orders during the pendency of the case, was declined by the Cat here today. The tribunal, on December 22, had stayed the passing of the final orders against the suspended chief engineer without considering his reply.

Pronouncing the orders today, the tribunal observed that under the provisions of the Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985, the aggrieved party could approach CAT after final orders had been passed by the competent authority. The case will now come up before the tribunal on February 2, 1999, for further proceedings. Jerath8217;s counsel, in the plea, stated that the applicant had filed a representation against the report of the inquiry officer.

He had earlier sought directions to the administration for quashing the report whereby Jerath had been accused of wilful absence from Headquarters without prior permission. The report had also accused the suspended chief engineer of violating Rule 3 1 iii of the Punjab Employees Conduct Rules, 1996 by not appearing despite issuance of non-bailable warrants against him.

The counsel had stated that Jerath could not appear before the inquiry officer as he had surrendered before the court on November 27, the date fixed for defence evidence.

Jerath, he had added, was also denied copies of the statements made by the prosecution witnesses, essential for effective evidence.