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Nagpur: Coming down heavily on the director of South Central Zone Cultural Committee (SCZCC) director for delay in filing reply in a contempt plea, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court, has given him ultimatum to complete the process by October 5. The reply was sought on affidavit to HC’s notices for over a year since April 2017.
A division bench, comprising Justice Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Justice Murlidhar Giratkar came out with this ruling while hearing a plea filed by SCZCC’s former employee Ravindra Durugkar, who was sacked on December 10, 2013, from the post of assistant director.
Through his counsel Shreerang Bhandarkar, the petitioner pointed out that he joined the SCZCC on October 2, 1986 and worked as comperer till December 1, 1998. Subsequently, he was promoted as assistant director (regularized) with effect from December 1, 1998, and his basic salary was fixed at 10,750.
Following some differences, the director issued notices to him on December 24, 2012. He was, however, dismissed without granting an opportunity of hearing as per principles of natural justice.
The petitioner preferred an appeal to SCZCC executive board and appellate authority under Rule 23 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeals) Rules, 1965. As he didn’t receive any response on the appeal, he made another representation to the respondents requesting to decide the appeal at the earliest.
