Madurai: Granting relief to a late cooperative sub-registrar who was dismissed from service on allegations of receiving bribes from salesmen of fair price shops in Madurai district in 2001, Madras high court has held that framing of charge was fatally defective.
In 2001, he was working as a cooperative sub-registrar (public distribution system) in Thirumangalam in Madurai district. On December 31, 2001, he convened a monthly review meeting with salesmen of the fair price shops coming under his jurisdiction.
He stated that in order to buy shawls and sweets for his superior officers, he had kept the said amount with him. The court was hearing an appeal filed by S Ramamoorthy (who died during pendency of the appeal and his legal heirs were substituted as appellants). It is an unspoken rule scrupulously followed in practice that the subordinate officials have to present themselves before their superiors on the new year day. But mere greetings would not suffice. Greetings should be duly accompanied by gifts. The petitioner believed in conformity. His explanation is quite convincing, the judges observed.