Adversitement
Bombay High Court Dismisses Disciplinary Action Against Central Excise Officials Linked to 1993 Mumbai Blasts
Published On : 2024-03-11T10:28:57+0530 [ IST ] |
Author : Mayur_Tembhare
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Maharashtra / Mumbai :
The Bombay High Court has delivered a significant verdict, dismissing disciplinary action against two Central Excise officials, Yashwant Lotale and SM Padwal, who were allegedly connected to the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts. The court's ruling comes nearly three decades after disciplinary proceedings were initiated against them.
Yashwant Lotale, serving as Superintendent of Central Excise at the time of the blasts, was accused of negligence for purportedly failing to prevent the landing of explosives used in the bombings. Similarly, SM Padwal, another Central Excise Superintendent, was alleged to have accepted bribes to facilitate the transportation of arms and ammunition.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor, quashed the disciplinary action orders against the officials, citing a lack of concrete evidence. The court emphasized that the charges against them were based on confessional statements made in a criminal case, which could not serve as grounds for disciplinary proceedings.
The bench underscored the principle that mere suspicion cannot substitute for proof, highlighting the necessity for definite evidence to establish guilt in disciplinary matters. Notably, the court observed that the accused officials were not tried as defendants in the criminal case related to the blasts, and therefore, their guilt could not be inferred solely from the confessional statements.
As a result of the court's decision, Yashwant Lotale and SM Padwal are entitled to receive consequential benefits, including arrears of salary and pension. The bench directed that these benefits be disbursed to them within a period of two months.
The ruling brings closure to a protracted legal battle for the two officials, who had faced the specter of disciplinary action for nearly three decades. While the 1993 Mumbai blasts remain one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India's history, the High Court's verdict underscores the importance of upholding legal principles and ensuring due process in matters of disciplinary action.
Source : India Today
Tags : Central Excise officials , confessional statements , 1993 Mumbai blasts , disciplinary action , Bombay High Court , quashed ,
Summary : The Bombay High Court has quashed disciplinary action against two Central Excise officials, Yashwant Lotale and SM Padwal, who were accused of negligence in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charges against them, emphasizing that confessional statements made in criminal cases cannot be used as the basis for disciplinary proceedings. The decision entitles the officials to consequential benefits such as arrears of salary and pension.
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