MADURAI: The Madras HC has dismissed a plea by a bus conductor of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation seeking reinstatement 30 years after he was removed from service. The conductor, U Chelladurai, was dismissed on charges of misappropriation of Rs 31 by reissuing tickets which were already sold in previous trips in 1989.
Justice S S Sundar observed that the amount of misappropriation may be meagre, but the loss of confidence should be considered in a different perspective. “The petitioner has misappropriated money by reissuing the tickets which were already sold in previous trips. This type of misconduct should be considered a serious one.”
While Chelladurai was on duty in a passenger bus in1989 in Madurai, a checking inspector found that he had reissued the tickets which he had earlier sold to different passengers, and misappropriated Rs 31.
Disciplinary proceedings were initiated, the charges were proved and Chelladurai was dismissed from service in 1991. He approached the labour court against the order but the plea was rejected. He then moved the HC Madurai bench in 2013.
The HC judge observed that Chelladurai did not give a proper explanation for the specific charges. “This court cannot interfere with the findings of disciplinary authority or the labour court unless the findings are perverse.”
