Odishatv Bureau

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has vacated a stay it had granted restraining the Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) authorities from giving effect to a suspension order slapped on the Port traffic manager Saroj Kumar Misro.

With this order, the PPT authorities are now one step closer to suspend Misro, who had been booked by the CBI under Prevention of Corruption Act for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

A Division Bench of Justices B P Das and B K Nayak vacated the stay it had granted in July this year restraining the port authorities from giving effect to the May 21, 2012 suspension order handed over to Misro.

The Bench vacated the stay when the High Court was informed by the Port authorities that the Central government has in the meantime approved the suspension order.

However, the High Court in its order also made it clear that the suspension order on the port traffic manager shall now be subjected to the result of a writ petition filed by Misro, which is now in the final stage of adjudication by the High Court.

The Bhubaneswar wing of CBI had raided the office and official residence of Misro In December 2009. While conducting search and seizure, the CBI sleuths had stumbled upon assets in the name of Misro which were incredibly disproportionate to his known sources of income.

 Subsequently, the CBI submitted charge-sheets against Misro booking him under Section 13(1) and (2) of PC Act of 1988 after obtaining sanction of prosecution from Union shipping ministry. While doing so, the CBI had also recommended the PPT authorities to initiate regular departmental action against Misro.

Accordingly, as per Paradeep Port Employees (Classification, Control and Appeal) Regulation of 1967, a disciplinary proceeding against Misro was initiated by the then chairman of the PPT. The disciplinary authority after collecting sufficient evidence in support of Misro's misconduct placed him under suspension in May this year.

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