1986 PLC(CS) 623

The decision, dated 22‑9‑1985 recorded by the learned Presiding Officer, Punjab Labour Court No. 8, Bahawalpur has been challenged, whereby the order of suspension was set aside in toto.

2. On account of registration of a criminal case, the respondent was suspended for an indefinite period. According to rule 5 of the Railways Efficiency & Discipline Rules, where the employer decides to hold inquiry, the employee concerned can be suspended for three months and if it is required that suspension should continue, after every three months, the suspension order is extended by the competent authority. In the present case the suspension was not extended on the expiry of three months. So from 10‑3‑1981 the suspension became illegal and could not be allowed to stand. The learned lower Court, however, wrongly set aside the suspension with effect from the date it was passed. Since for the first three months the order was legal, it could not be set aside.

3. As a result the appeal is partly accepted and modifying the impugned decision, the order of suspension from 10‑12‑1980 to 9‑3‑1981 is declared as legal and is revived. The suspension order beyond 9‑3‑1981 being illegal was rightly set aside and back benefits rightly allowed.

A. E.

Appeal partly accepted.