SC upholds order to reinstate official terminated from AG’s office

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court upheld the high court order to reinstate K A Manuel terminated from the office of Accountant General while serving as assistant audit officer. The apex court dismissed the plea filed by the Center and C & AG against the order of the high court. Meantime, the Supreme Court did not accept Manuel's demand for salary for the period during which the action was taken.

A bench consisting of Justices B R Gavai and Vikram Nath dismissed the central government's plea. Manuel was dismissed from service in December 2006 for participating in a strike at the AG’s office and for allegedly assaulting an employee of the office.

The Central Administrative Tribunal had quashed his dismissal in 2010 on a plea filed by Manuel. A division bench of the high court quashed the plea filed by the Center against the tribunal's order in 2018. The Supreme Court dismissed the plea filed by the Center and the C&AG against this. The plea was dismissed stating that there was no need to interfere in the high court’s judgment.

Although the order to reinstate him was issued, the high court did not agree to Manuel's request to direct to pay the salary for the period during which the action was taken. His salary was denied on the grounds that he was a member of the staff of ministers and opposition leaders after his dismissal. The Supreme Court also rejected the plea filed by Manuel. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta and advocate Beena Madhavan appeared for Manuel in the Supreme Court.