The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has set aside disciplinary proceedings and an associated charge sheet against Indian Administrative Service officer Rajesh Kumar Singh, ruling that endorsing a CBI closure report without corrupt motives does not constitute official misconduct.
A division bench comprising Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai quashed the departmental charge sheet alongside all consequential penalty proceedings against the bureaucrat. The judges directed the competent authorities to restore all of Singh’s service benefits within 12 weeks, specifically granting any promotional and financial entitlements he would have received had the disciplinary measures not been taken.
The court observed that Singh’s actions could not be treated as misconduct given the complete absence of any corrupt motive or mala fide intent in his official conduct.
The case traces back to Singh’s tenure as joint secretary and chief vigilance officer in the Department of Heavy Industry. During that period, he was directed to file a First Information Report with the Central Bureau of Investigation against M.K. Singh, the then chairman and managing director of Kolkata-based Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited.
Following an inquiry, the CBI submitted a closure report before the Special CBI Court. Acting on the advice of the prosecuting officer handling the matter, the IAS officer communicated a formal no-objection to the investigative agency’s closure plea, which was subsequently accepted by the court. Departmental authorities later initiated disciplinary action and issued a charge sheet against Singh for consenting to the closure.
