1 2025:CGHC:17046 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 2441 of 2025 1 - Lalji Chandrakar S/o Late Shri Shankar Lal Chandrakar Aged About 62 Years Presently Working As In-Charge Chief Municipal OfÏcer, Nagar Panchayat, Lormi, District- Mungeli (C.G.) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- The Secretary, Department Of Urban Administration And Development, Atal Nagar, Naya Raipur, District- Raipur (C.G.) 2 - Director Directorate Of Urban Administration And Development Department, Indrawati Bhawan, Naya Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) (Cause title taken from CIS) For Petitioner(s) : Dr. Sudeep Agrawal, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Shri Akhilesh Kumar, Govt. Advocate. SHOAIB ANWAR Digitally signed by SHOAIB ANWAR Date: 2025.04.16 16:05:47 +0530 2 Hon'ble Shri Bibhu Datta Guru , Judge Order on Board 15.04.2025 1. Heard Dr. Sudeep Agrawal, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Mr. Akhilesh Kumar, learned Govt. Advocate appearing on behalf of the State. 2. The instant writ petition is preferred by the petitioner under Article 226 of the Constitution of India with the following relief(s):- 1. That, to conclude the Departmental Enquiry within stipulated time interval preferably on or before his retirement in the interest of justice. 2. That, to grant all consequential benefits to the petitioner, after conclusion of Departmental Enquiry and the name of the petitioner in sealed envelope be opened in a fixed time period. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the departmental enquiry which was initiated on 17.05.2022 is yet to be concluded. It has been argued that the State Government has issued a notification stating that the departmental enquiry should be and must be concluded within a period of one year, however, the same has not been concluded. Hence, a direction be issued to the respondent authorities to conclude the departmental enquiry, which was initiated against the petitioner. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel submits that the departmental enquiry initiated against the petitioner shall be concluded within a specified time frame as granted by this Court. 3 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties, considered their rival contentions and perused the documents annexed with the writ petition. 6. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case as well as upon appreciating the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the parties, and further considering the fact that the State Government has issued a notification to conclude the departmental enquiry within a period of one year, the Enquiry OfÏcer, i.e. respondent authorities is directed to conclude the departmental enquiry pending against the petitioner within a period of 2½ months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order as the petitioner is going to retire on 31.05.2025. 7. With the aforementioned observation/direction, instant writ petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) Judge Shoaib