Uttarakhand High Court
WPSS/499/2026 on 25 February, 2026
Author: Manoj Kumar Tiwari
Bench: Manoj Kumar Tiwari
2026:UHC:1280
Office Notes,
reports, orders
or proceedings
SL.
Date or directions COURT'S OR JUDGE'S ORDERS
No.
and Registrar's
order with
Signatures
WPSS/499/2026
Hon'ble Manoj Kumar Tiwari, J.
Ms. Mamta Bisht, Advocate for the petitioner.
2. Mr. K.N. Joshi, Deputy Advocate General for the State of Uttarakhand/ respondent no. 1.
3. Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Advocate for respondent nos. 2 to 5.
4. Petitioner is serving as Scaler in Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation. He was put under suspension vide order dated 23.08.2023 in contemplation of enquiry. Subsequently, a charge-sheet was also issued to him on 19.12.2023. The disciplinary enquiry, however, has not been concluded so far. In this writ petition, petitioner has sought the following relief:-
"i. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari setting aside the impugned suspension order dated 23.08.2023 (as annexed as Annexure No. 1) to this writ petition."
5. Law is well settled that suspension is no punishment in the eyes of law and suspension is ordered, in order to prevent the employee concerned from tempering with the evidence or influencing the witnesses. However, order or suspension cannot be permitted to continue for indefinite period of time.
6. Learned counsel for the employer submits that a SIT was constituted by the State Government to look into the charge of financial bungling in Lalkuan Depot of 2026:UHC:1280 Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation and since petitioner was also posted in Lalkuan Depot, therefore, his conduct is under investigation by SIT.
7. Having regard to the facts of the case, the writ petition is disposed of by directing the competent authority to make endeavour to conclude the disciplinary enquiry initiated against petitioner, within six months from the date of presentation of certified copy of this order.
(Manoj Kumar Tiwari, J.) 25.02.2026 Navin NAVEEN Digitally signed by NAVEEN CHANDRA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND, ou=HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND, 2.5.4.20=3be23325146e76a0642bdf4943fb9046f487df006da82a131b CHANDRA b4e4403d3c0a15, postalCode=263001, st=UTTARAKHAND, serialNumber=18167EEFB5CA8CFFD421A103819DA875643AF56D65 3D095C6ED9A86DAAB21CE5, cn=NAVEEN CHANDRA Date: 2026.02.25 17:52:09 +05'30'