Reasoned disciplinary enquiry required before closing complaint; bare opinion without issue-wise findings was quashed and remanded.

A disciplinary complaint cannot be closed on a bare opinion that no prima facie case exists; the authority must consider the materials, examine the evidence, and give issue-wise reasons. Here, the closure was found unsustainable because the report did not show proper consideration of the documents, evidence, or specific allegations. The impugned decision and consequential proceedings were therefore quashed, and the complaint was remanded for a fresh enquiry with opportunity to all parties and a reasoned determination on each issue.

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Issues: (i) Whether the closure of the petitioner's complaint by the disciplinary authority, without adequate reasons and proper consideration of the materials, was sustainable; (ii) Whether the impugned decision and consequential proceedings were liable to be quashed and the complaint remanded for a fresh enquiry.

Issue (i): Whether the closure of the petitioner's complaint by the disciplinary authority, without adequate reasons and proper consideration of the materials, was sustainable.

Analysis: The complaint and the connected reply were merely recorded, but the report did not disclose a proper examination of the documents, evidence, or the specific allegations raised. The recording of a bare opinion that no prima facie case was made out, without issue-wise reasons and findings, was held to be insufficient for a fair disciplinary enquiry. Reasons were treated as essential to support the conclusion reached by the original disciplinary authority.

Conclusion: The closure of the complaint was held unsustainable.

Issue (ii): Whether the impugned decision and consequential proceedings were liable to be quashed and the complaint remanded for a fresh enquiry.

Analysis: Since the enquiry was found to be incomplete and not conducted in the manner required by law, the appropriate course was to set aside the decision and direct reconsideration. The matter was required to be examined afresh with opportunity to all parties, consideration of the materials, and a reasoned order on each issue.

Conclusion: The impugned decision and consequential proceedings were quashed and the matter was remanded for a fresh enquiry.

Final Conclusion: The writ petition succeeded and the disciplinary complaint was restored for reconsideration in accordance with law, with a fresh, reasoned determination to be made after hearing all concerned.

Ratio Decidendi: A disciplinary complaint cannot be closed on a bare opinion without issue-wise reasons, consideration of the evidence, and a fair and impartial enquiry; where this is absent, the decision is liable to be quashed and remanded for fresh adjudication.

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