Disciplinary reply to inquiry report must be considered with reasons; suspension continuation left to competent authority.

Departmental disciplinary proceedings under the Uttar Pradesh Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1991 required the disciplinary authority to examine the petitioner's reply to the inquiry report and show-cause notice in a logical manner, address each objection raised, and pass a reasoned decision in accordance with law. The Court left the pending issues to the competent authority, including whether suspension should continue, and directed the authority to decide the reply within one month from presentation of a certified copy of the order.

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Issues: Whether the disciplinary authority was required to consider the petitioner's reply to the inquiry report and pass a reasoned decision in accordance with law within a stipulated time.

Analysis: The petition arose out of departmental disciplinary proceedings under the Uttar Pradesh Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1991. The petitioner's reply to the inquiry report and show-cause notice had already been submitted, and the Court observed that the pending contentions should be examined in a logical manner and strictly in accordance with law, without skipping any of the objections raised. The Court also noted that the question of continuing suspension at that stage was for the competent authority to examine.

Conclusion: The matter was left for decision by the disciplinary authority, which was directed to decide the petitioner's reply within one month from presentation of a certified copy of the order.

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