1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 835 OF 2010 Sanjay Krishnarao Taksande ...Petitioner Versus Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) & Ors. ...Respondents Mr. J.P. Cama, Senior Advocate, with Ms. Shubha Kher i/by M/s. Sanjay Udeshi & Co. for the Petitioner Mr. D.J. Khambata, Additional Solicitor General, i/by M/s. DSK Legal for the Respondents. CORAM: J.N. PATEL AND A.P. BHANGALE, JJ. DATE: APRIL 21, 2010 P.C.:- Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 2. In the midst of hearing, we have made a query to the learned Additional Solicitor General for the respondents, considering that the petitioner is a high-ranking officer, as to whether a fair opportunity of hearing can be granted to him in order to defend himself in the disciplinary inquiry proceedings pending against him. 2 The learned Additional Solicitor General, after taking instructions, states that provided the petitioner co-operates, the inquiry can be held expeditiously, preferably from day-to-day, commencing from 26th April, 2010, and the respondents will give an opportunity to the petitioner to cross-examine all the witnesses on the basis of documents produced before the Inquiry Officer, relied on by the Presenting Officer. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner states that the petitioner is willing to co-operate in the departmental inquiry, and will not take unnecessary adjournment/s. 4. In view of the statement by the learned Additional Solicitor General, we dispose of this petition, with a direction to the respondents to furnish statement of the witnesses to the petitioner and allow him to cross- examine them, thereby permitting the petitioner to participate in the departmental inquiry from the stage the inquiry was proceeded ex parte. The petitioner to appear before the Inquiry Officer initially on 26th April, 2010. J.N. PATEL, J. A.P. BHANGALE, J.