Civil Writ Petition No. 9344 of 2001 1 In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, at Chandigarh. Civil Writ Petition No. 9344 of 2001 Date of Decision: 5.12.2008 Dev Kumar Arya …Petitioner Versus Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala and Others …Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA. Present: Mr. Vipin Mahajan, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Deepak Sibal, Advocate for the respoondents. Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia, J. (Oral) The present writ petition has been filed by Dev Kumar Arya who was posted as General Manager (O&M), G.H.T.P., Lehran Mohabbat, Bathinda, as Class-I Officer. He has prayed that order dated 8.5.2001 (Annexure P7) be quashed, whereby he was suspended and it was ordered that he be paid subsistence allowance. It has been further prayed that order of initial enquiry be also quashed as the incident due to which an FIR has been registered is pending before a Criminal Court and is subjudice. The present writ petition was filed on 1.7.2001. A Division Bench of this Court on 5.7.2001 had stayed the disciplinary enquiry. Grievance of the petitioner was that continuation of criminal proceedings and departmental proceedings will cause prejudice to him. Civil Writ Petition No. 9344 of 2001 2 Mr. Mahajan has stated that in the present case, interim order was passed by this Court in July 2001 and the departmental proceedings stand stayed since then, whereas criminal case in which the petitioner is facing prosecution, the charges have been framed. The criminal trial has proceeded and is at the fag end. Statement of accused under Section 313 of Code of Criminal Procedure has been recorded and the trial is likely to conclude shortly. Mr. Mahajan states that this Court need not go into the nitty- gritty of the case as the grievance of the petitioner shall stand redressed after the conclusion of the trial. It has been further stated that criminal case is near conclusion. I am of the view that since the petitioner has enjoyed the order of stay for more than seven years, another six months will make no difference. Hence, the Court of Mr. Ranjeet Singh, Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Bathinda is directed to conclude the trial within six months from today. Till then departmental proceedings be kept in abeyance. Copy of this order be sent to the Court of Mr. Ranjeet Singh, Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Bathinda. It is also made clear that in case trial concludes before the time specified by this Court, the departmental proceedings shall commence at once. In view of the above, the present writ petition is disposed off. (Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia) Judge December 5, 2008 “DK”