The bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Arora and Justice Vijay Laxmi directed the central government and Thakur to file their counter replies within two weeks.
In its interim order, the high court bench permitted the state government to proceed with the departmental inquiry, making it clear that it shall not take any final decision till the disposal of the writ petition.
The state government’s chief standing counsel, Sanjay Bhasin said that under the All-India Services Discipline and Appeal Rules, the state government was empowered to appoint an inquiry officer immediately after handing over the charge sheet.
Central government counsel Ashok Verma opposed it by saying that the rule cannot be read in isolation but needs to be read along with other provisions.
Having heard all the parties, the high court fixed May 11 as the next date of hearing.
