W.P.159-09 WITH C.A.67-69 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.159 OF 2009 Editor of Lokmat Newspaper .. Petitioner Versus Maharashtra State Road Transport Officers .. Respondents Mr.R.P.Behere, Additional G.P. For State WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO.67 OF 2010 Lokmat .. Petitioner Versus Maharashtra Road Transport Officers .. Respondents and B.G.Khandagale .. Applicant AND CIVIL APPLICATION NO.68 OF 2010 Lokmat .. Petitioner Versus Maharashtra Road Transport Officers .. Respondents and M.A.R. Shaikh .. Applicant W.P.159-09 WITH C.A.67-69 2 AND CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 69 OF 2010 Lokmat .. Petitioner Versus Maharashtra Road Transport Officers .. Respondents and B.K.Kharmate .. Applicant Mr.K.K.Singhvi, Senior Advocate i/b. P.R.Arjunwadkar for applicants Mr.R.P.Behre, A.G.P. For State. CORAM : MOHIT SHAH,C.J. & S.C.DHARMADHIKARI, J. Date : 1st July 2010. P.C. 1] In this public interest litigation, the petitioners have made a grievance against inaction on the part of the authorities in spite of the detection of the scam which was being run on regular basis in the offices of Regional Transport Office at Pen, Dist. Alibaug and Andheri, Dist. Mumbai. 2] It is not necessary to refer to the allegations because during the pendency of W.P.159-09 WITH C.A.67-69 3 this petition, the State Government has already issued orders of suspension against three officers on 31st August 2009 who are applicants in the Civil Application Nos. 67 to 69 of 2010. 3] The learned Counsel for the said three officers submits that his clients have been suspended on account of orders passed by this Court in this PIL and, therefore, they suffer serious prejudice. The grievance is that, in spite of the fact that the suspension orders were issued on 31st August 2009, no charge sheet has been issued to them in the departmental enquiry and that in the so called criminal case also, no charge sheet is filed against the said officers but suspension continues from 31st August 2009 onwards. 4] It is stated by the learned Counsel for the State that 10 R.T.O. Officers were suspended on 31st August 2009 and charge sheets have been issued in the Departmental Enquiry against them on 11th February 2010. Such departmental enquiry is pending against about 20 officers/ Inspectors. 5] It is also stated that the police will be filing charge sheet in the criminal proceedings before the competent court within two months from today. 6] In view of the above, while disposing of this petition, we direct that the competent authority shall complete the departmental enquiry within six months from today. These directions are given in view of the assurances coming from the learned Counsel for the applicants in civil applications that his clients will cooperate with the authorities for expeditious completion of departmental enquiry. W.P.159-09 WITH C.A.67-69 4 7] It is clarified that these directions are without prejudice to the criminal proceedings which may be pending against the concerned officers/ persons or which may be instituted hereafter. 8] Petition as well as civil applications are disposed of in view of the statements made by the learned Counsel. (CHIEF JUSTICE) (S.C.DHARMADHIKARI, J)