THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GHULAM MOHAMMED and THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE G.BHAVANI PRASAD W.P.No.7144 of 2010 ORDER: (Per Sri Justice Ghulam Mohammed, J) This writ petition is filed assailing the order dated 01.02.2010 passed by the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad (for short ‘the Tribunal’) in O.A.No.12924 of 2009 filed by the petitioner questioning his suspension proceedings dated 24.11.2009, was dismissed. 2. The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner, while working as Junior Assistant in the office of Tahsildar, Balijipeta, Vizianagaram District, was placed under suspension vide proceedings, dated 24.11.2009, issued by the first respondent, on the ground that he misappropriated the government funds. Challenging the said proceedings, the petitioner filed O.A.No.12924 of 2009 before the Tribunal, which in turn dismissed the same on 01.02.2010, holding that as there are serious allegations of misappropriation of government funds against the petitioner, there is no illegality or irregularity on the part of the respondents in keeping him under suspension. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner filed the present writ petition. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Services-II. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that though the other two employees, who are involved in this matter, are in service, the respondents selectively suspended the petitioner pending enquiry. He also contended that the respondents did not take steps either to arrange subsistence allowance or to conduct departmental enquiry and therefore, he prays for a direction to the respondents to reinstate him into service pending enquiry. 5. Inasmuch as there is involvement of the petitioner in misappropriating a large sum of Government money, a detailed enquiry has to be conducted in the matter by the respondents and therefore, keeping the petitioner under suspension pending enquiry is not illegal. Observing the same, the Tribunal has dismissed the O.A. However, an employee cannot be placed under suspension indefinitely. Therefore, the respondents are hereby directed to complete the departmental enquiry, within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. If the enquiry is not completed within such time, the petitioner can be reinstated into service. 6. With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. _____________________ GHULAM MOHAMMED,J ____________________ G.BHAVANI PRASAD, J Date:16.04.2010. sj