it2025_00330 — The role and responsibilities of Enquiry Officer of a department is to record the findings as to the seriousness and misconduct or otherwise. Punishment is to be given by the competent punishing authority on receipt of the enquiry report or order fresh enquiry if he does not agree with the report of Enquiry Officer and record his views based on which the fresh enquiry can be ordered or punishment given based on his written views for disagreeing with the Enquiry Officer

The role and responsibilities of Enquiry Officer of a department is to record the findings as to the seriousness and misconduct or otherwise. Punishment is to be given by the competent punishing authority on receipt of the enquiry report or order fresh enquiry if he does not agree with the report of Enquiry Officer and record his views based on which the fresh enquiry can be ordered or punishment given based on his written views for disagreeing with the Enquiry Officer — The role and responsibilities of an Enquiry Officer in a department, their findings regarding serious misconduct or otherwise, and the authority's decision to impose punishment based on their report ... — Facts: The Applicant holding the charge of Senior Accounts Officer in the Office of the Controller of Defence Accounts during the period from 1992 to1994 was charge-sheeted along with others including Lt. Col. Pakki Ram Shankar Rao . CBI/SPE/ACU (I), New Delhi also charge-sheeted him along with others wherein the Appellant was arrayed as Accused 1. The charge-sheet has four Articles of charges. The charge-sheet alleges that the Defence Accounts Officer unauthorizedly paid 36 fraudulent claims to the tune of ₹ 42.24 lakhs thereby he acted unbecoming of a Government servant violating Rules 3

(i) (ii), 3 (1)

(iii) and 3 (2)

(i) of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964. On hearing both sides, of the Apex Court held: