HC upholds termination of BARC scientific officer

The Bombay High Court has upheld the termination of a Scientific Officer in National Agriculture Division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, saying the inquiry against him had produced evidence to show that he had accepted illegal gratification.
Sahivanagouda Patil has alleged that he was victimised by another Scientific Officer, N S Rao, who was senior to him by one day and allegedly jealous of his work.
An inquiry was instituted against the petitioner into the allegations that he had given seeds to the farmers at a cost, although the seeds were distributed free by BARC.
It was the Patil's case that he had a meritorious career. By his successful research, he developed high yielding and disease tolerant groundnut seed varieties which are even now commercially cultivated and has benefited the nation.

The petitioner further contended that his work has been appreciated and rewarded. He was granted promotions to higher grades till 1976 when he was promoted as Scientific Officer.
Besides, he had won several national awards and traveled to many foreign countries in connection with work.

However, the High Court bench comprising Justices V M Kanade and G S Kulkarni ruled: "Having considered the aforesaid fact position as emerged in the inquiry proceedings, we find that there is no merit in any of the submissions as made on behalf of the petitioner".
Counsel for the petitioner, Mihir Desai contended there was no evidence against the petitioner to substantiate the charge and therefore, the petition deserves to be allowed.

"The submission on behalf of the petitioner cannot be accepted and deserves to be rejected", said the Judges in their recent order.
"...From the evidence which has come on record of the inquiry proceedings, it speaks quite clearly that the petitioner was not only the beneficiary of the amounts but actually has received the amounts of Rs 2295 and Rs 500 as mentioned in the charges", the Judges observed.