In Brief
Canara Bank initiated disciplinary proceedings against Assistant General Manager D.R.P. Sundharam after his retirement on 31 May 2007, by serving a charge-memo dated 28 June 2007. The High Court quashed the proceedings, finding that Regulation 20(3)(iii) of the Canara Bank Service Regulations permits disciplinary proceedings to continue post-retirement only if formally initiated before retirement. The Supreme Court affirmed this, holding that Regulation 20(3)(iii) is independent of earlier regulations and applies exclusively where charge-sheets were served during service. Since the charge-sheet here post-dated retirement, no valid disciplinary proceeding could proceed against the respondent.
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