Patna High Court
Goverdhan KumarversusThe Union of India
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
Holding
The writ petition was dismissed as infructuous and disposed of by the Court.
Summary
The petitioner, Goverdhan Kumar, a Deputy Chief Safety Officer of East Central Railway, filed a writ petition in the Patna High Court challenging a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order dated 29 May 2025 that directed the respondents to conclude disciplinary proceedings arising from a charge memo dated 2 August 2023 within eighteen months. The respondents contended that the petitioner had already been exonerated of all charges by an order dated 9 April 2026, rendering the writ petition moot. Both parties agreed that the petition was now infructuous. The Court, after hearing counsel, held that there was no longer any dispute or relief to be granted and consequently disposed of the writ petition. The order effectively dismissed the petition as unnecessary.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate remedy when a writ petition becomes moot due to the petitioner’s exoneration in the underlying disciplinary proceeding?
Subjects
- writ petition
- disciplinary proceedings
- Central Administrative Tribunal
- exoneration
- jurisdiction
- high court
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.15454 of 2025
======================================================
Goverdhan Kumar Son of - Late Bal Krishna Prasad, Resident of Siddhipriya,
Biscuit Factory Road, Sikandarpur Nasriganj, Digha, District- Patna, Bihar-
800012, Presently Posted As Deputy Chief Safety Officer/Electrical In The
Office of General Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur, Distt.- Vaishali,
Bihar- 844101.
... ... Petitioner
Versus
1. The Union of India Through General Manager, East Central Railway,
Hajipur, Dist. Vaishali, Bihar- 844101.
2. Central Vigilance Commissioner, Satarkata Bhawan, Block - A, GPO
Complex, INA, New Delhi- 110023.
3. The Principal Executive Director (Vigilance) Rail Bhawan, Raisina Road,
New Delhi- 110001.
... ... Respondents
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner : Mr. Ankur Apurv Singh, Advocate
Mr. Abhinav Kumar Singh, Advocate
Mr. Shaurya Pushpam, Advocate
For the Respondents : Ms. Surya Nilambari, Advocate
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHIT KUMAR SHAH
and
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR JHA
ORAL ORDER
(Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHIT KUMAR SHAH)
7 21-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. The present writ petition has been filed
challenging the order dated 29.05.2025, passed by the learned
Central Administrative Tribunal, Patna Bench, Patna
(hereinafter referred to as “CAT”) in O.A. No. 050/00048 of
2024, whereby and whereunder the respondents were directed to
conclude the disciplinary proceeding arising out of charge
memo dated 02.08.2023, in accordance with law, within a period
of eighteen months of passing of the said order dated
Patna High Court CWJC No.15454 of 2025(7) dt.21-04-2026
2/2
29.05.2025.
3. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
respondents has submitted that the petitioner has been
exonerated of all the charges levelled against him vide charge
memo dated 02.08.2023 by an order dated 09.04.2026, which is
not disputed by the learned counsel for the petitioner. Hence, it
is jointly submitted by the learned counsel for the parties that
since the present writ petition has been rendered infructuous, the
same may be disposed off.
4. Accordingly, the present writ petition stands
disposed off.
(Mohit Kumar Shah, J)
(Arun Kumar Jha, J)
Shahnawaz/-
U
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