CWP No. 16091 of 2008 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No. 16091 of 2008 Date of decision: September 10, 2008 Surinder Pal Singh --- Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ---- Respondents CORAM: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ashutosh Mohunta Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajan Gupta Present: Mr. Roshan Lal Sharma, Advocate, for the petitioner. Ashutosh Mohunta, J. Challenge in this writ petition is to the order dated 27-6- 2008 (annexure P4), vide which services of the petitioner have been terminated by the Collector, District SAS Nagar ( Mohali). The petitioner was tried for an offence under Sections 7, 13(2)-88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He was convicted by the Special Judge, Rup Nagar vide judgment dated 23-1-2008 and was sentenced to undergo RI for 2½ years along with fine of Rs.1,000/-. He filed an appeal before this Court. However, his application for suspension of sentence was declined. Thereafter CWP No. 16091 of 2008 2 he preferred Special Leave to appeal (Criminal) No. 1359-1360 of 2008, praying for suspension of sentence. The Hon'ble Apex Court passed the following order: “Heard learned counsel for the parties. The sentence of the petitioner shall remain suspended during the pendency of the appeal before the High Court. The petitioner is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs. 20,000/- with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. The special leave petitions stand disposed of accordingly.” Learned counsel submits that as the sentence of the petitioner has been suspended, the orders of termination of his services could not be passed. A perusal of the order annexure P1 shows that only sentence has been suspended. Mere suspension of sentence does not prohibit the departmental authorities from proceeding against the official held guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Resultantly we find no merit in this writ petition and the same is dismissed. [Ashutosh Mohunta] Judge [Rajan Gupta] Judge September 10, 2008 `ask'