Infructuous departmental proceedings challenge after charges were recommended to be dropped and the matter was remitted for further processing.

The petition challenging a Tribunal direction to conclude departmental proceedings without delay became infructuous after the vigilance authority recorded second-stage advice recommending dropping of charges against all charged officers and directed further processing under the applicable disciplinary framework for common proceedings and pensionary proceedings. In light of that subsequent administrative development, the HC found no practical basis for any further direction and declined interference with the Tribunal's order.

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Issues: Whether the petition challenging the Tribunal's direction to conclude the departmental proceedings survived in view of the subsequent administrative development and, if not, whether any further interference was warranted.

Analysis: The petition assailed the Tribunal's direction requiring a final decision in the departmental proceedings without delay. During the pendency of the petition, the vigilance authority recorded second stage advice recommending dropping of charges against all the charged officers and required the matter to be processed further in accordance with the applicable disciplinary framework for common proceedings and pensionary proceedings. In view of this subsequent development, the Court found no necessity for any further direction and treated the controversy as having lost practical significance.

Conclusion: The petition was held to have become infructuous and no interference with the Tribunal's order was called for.

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