The Madras High Court bench here has dismissed a petition filed by a former Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) from the Tiruchi railway division, challenging an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that upheld his dismissal from service.
The petitioner, S. Stalin, claimed that he was dismissed from service on February 20, 2006 after the railways found him guilty of forgery. During an inquiry before the dismissal, the petitioner had admitted to the guilt of forging the signature of one A. Aruldoss in the surety column of L. John Bastin’s loan application submitted to the Southern Railway Employee’s Co-operative Credit Society in Tiruchi, said Mr. Stalin’s counsel V. Singan.
According to the counsel, the petitioner had filed an appeal at the CAT, but it was dismissed. Mr. Singan contended that the petitioner did not violate the rules of the railways.
The railway division had shown mercy on the petitioner by paying 40 per cent pension and gratuity as compassionate allowances after the dismissal, he claimed.
M. Sureshkumar, the counsel appearing on behalf of the Tiruchi railway division, contended that the petitioner failed to maintain integrity as a railway servant as contemplated in the Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966.
A division bench comprising Justices N. Paul Vasanthakumar and P. Devadass ruled that the petitioner had committed an act of offence involving moral turpitude. Therefore, they dismissed the petitioner and upheld the judgement of the CAT.
The petitioner claimed that he was dismissed from service after the railways found him guilty of forgery