Madras High Court today quashed a charge memo issued to a Forest Ranger and also his suspension ordered the District Forest Officer to pay Rs 10,000 to him towards the cost as no criminal case was pending against him.
R Mohanasundaram, now retired, had filed case against one Gopi and five others for hunting and killing spotted deers in 2009 while he was the Forest Ranger of Kallakurichi Forest Range.
Angered over it Gopi, a politically influential person, had threatened Mohanasundaram and his staff and challenged that if he did not withdraw the case filed against him, he will be transferred.
Ramesh, a friend of Gopi later field "false" complaint against Mohanasundaram to the Forest Department officials.
Acting on the complaint, the forest department officials issued a charge memo under Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeals) on Mohanasundaram. Even after he submitted a detailed explanation, he was suspened.
Quashing the charge memo and the suspension, Justice T Raja said that there was no criminal case pending against Mohanasundaram.
"Instead of appreciating for his action against the offenders, the higher officials has served with him with a charge memo"
"When Mohanasundaram has set in motion the criminal case to take its course as per law against Gopi and five others, the authorities who were not competent authority cannot pre-judge the issue".
Gopi and others filed a petition before the Judicial Magistrate, Kallakurichi, stating that the criminal case booked against them was a false one. The case is still pending in the Magistrate Court.
The Judge while flaying the officials for issuing charge memo to Mohanasundaram said his suspension was not justified.
The Jude also directed the authorities to disburse Mohanasundam's retirement benefits within four weeks from the date of receipt of this order.
