IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.12476 of 2011 Durgashankar Gupta @ Raj Kumar Chaudhary Versus The State Of Bihar & Ors ---------------------------------- 2. 27.09.2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State. After institution of a criminal case, the petitioner was put under suspension vide order dated 5.10.2009. Almost two years have passed but departmental proceeding has not progressed even after the so-called charge-sheet issued in this regard. Since initially the suspension order was passed on institution of criminal case there is no time limit as such which can be fixed by virtue of which order of suspension can be curtailed. However, keeping in mind that the suspension cannot be used as major punishment to keep a government employee away from his responsibility in- definitely, the respondent have an obligation to expedite the departmental proceeding and take it to its logical end in this regard. Accordingly it is directed that that respondent no.5 Mr. Ajay, Joint Secretary, Rural Development, Government of Bihar, Conducting Officer as well as Enquiry Officer will take up the matter on priority basis and complete the departmental proceeding preferably within six months from the date of production of a copy of this order, provided the petitioner cooperates in 2 departmental proceeding and does not seek unnecessary adjournment on frivolous objections. The writ petition is disposed with the direction as above. Ravi/- (Ajay Kumar Tripathi, J.)