Who is empowered to issue a charge sheet?

Background        

The appellant sought information related to powers given to ‘J’ grade officers including the act or rule by which Railway Board gives the power to any ‘J’ grade officer and group ‘B’ officer to misuse his designation. The Public Information Officer (PIO) furnished point wise information.

View of CIC

The appellant stated that he wanted to know whether a person with Rs. 4800 grade pay can punish an employee with Rs. 4200 grade pay and can issue a minor penalty charge sheet to him. The respondent submitted that before 6th Pay Commission recommendations came into force, Jr. Scale officer could issue the charge sheet whereas after May 2011, only a gazetted officer has the authority to do so. The appellant produced some documents to prove that information supplied by PIO was incorrect. The respondent produced the official document (SOP) in this connection confirming that the information they had provided was correct and that it was not known from where the appellant has picked up the document that he has produced since the same has not been issued by the office. The Central Information Commission (CIC) closed the case, as the appellant accepted the explanation.

Citation: Mr. Satyaveer Singh v. Northern Railway in File No CIC/AD/A/2012/001314