1 2025:CGHC:1612 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 160 of 2025 • Lekhram Matra S/o Late Makhan Lal Matra aged About 50 Years Working as Lecturer, Govt. M.L.B. Girls Higher Secondary School, Rajnandgaon, Block Rajnandgaon, District Rajnandgaon, C.G. ... Petitioner(s) versus 1. State of Chhattisgarh through Secretary, Education Department, Matralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Raipur, District Raipur, C.G. 2. Director, Public Instructions, Indravati Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Raipur, District Raipur, C.G. 3. Divisional Joint Director (Education) Division Durg, District Durg, C.G. 4. District Education Officer, Rajnandgaon, District Rajnandgaon, C.G. Digitally signed by RAGHVENDRA JAT 2 5. Block Education Officer, Rajnandgaon, District-Rajnandgaon, C.G. ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner : Mr. C. Jayant K. Rao, Advocate. For Respondent/State : Mr. Abhishek Gupta, Panel Lawyer. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 10/01/2025 1. Today, the matter is listed for orders on default. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to remove the default during the course of the day. 3. By way of this petition, the petitioner has prayed for following reliefs:- “10.1 That this Hon'ble Court pleased to direct the respondent authorities to conclude the departmental enquiry against the petitioner. 10.2 That the Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to grant any other relief as it may deems fit and appropriate.” 4. Brief facts of the case, is that, the petitioner has been appointed as Lecturer and posted at Maharani Laxmi Bai Girls Higher Secondary School, Rajandgaon. On 01.12.2022, the petitioner has been posted as In-charge Principal of Eklavya Model 3 Residential School Pendri, Rajnandgaon. On 20.01.2023, the petitioner has been suspended alleging a false allegation that the petitioner submitted false answers to the question raised in the legislative assembly to the higher official. Thereafter, on 27.03.2023, the charge sheet has been issued against the petitioner which has been replied by the petitioner on 03.04.2023. Inspite of the above, vide order dated 16.05.2023, the departmental enquiry has been initiated against the petitioner under the provisions of Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966 and the District Education Officer, Rajnandgaon has been appointed as Inquiry Officer and the Block Education Officer, Rajnandgaon has been appointed as Presenting Officer. Inspite of more than 01 and half year, the departmental enquiry against the petitioner, has not been concluded, for which the petitioner approaches to the respondent No.3, whereby the respondent No. 3 directed the District Education Officer to conclude the departmental enquiry within a period of one month, but no action has been taken. The General Administration Department vide order dated 27.06.2024 has directed to all the Secretaries of the Department to conclude the departmental enquiry within a period of one year. On 09.11.2024, the petitioner also made representation before the Secretary of the Department to conclude the departmental 4 enquiry, but no action has been taken. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the departmental enquiry has not been concluded whereas the State Government has issued a circular dated 27.06.2024 according to which directions have been issued to conclude the departmental enquiry within a period of one year. However, in the present case, the departmental enquiry was initiated on 16.05.2023 and is yet to be concluded. 6. Looking to the facts and circumstances of the case and taking note of circular dated 27.06.2024, the respondent No.-4, District Education Officer (DEO), Rajnandgaon, District – Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh is directed to conclude the departmental enquiry as early as possible preferably within a period of two months. 7. With this observation and direction, the instant petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Raghu Jat