(1.) THIS petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed challenging the judgment and order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Ahmedabad (for short, "the C.A.T.") in O.A. No.366/2000 dated 29.12.2003 whereby, the said application has been rejected.
(2.) THE facts in brief are that the petitioner herein joined the services of the respondent-Department in the year 1992. Some where in March 1997, the petitioner applied for Leave Travel Concession (LTC) Advance of Rs.7,400/- for a journey which he was to undertake in May 1997. THE said amount of Advance was sanctioned by the Department. However, by a subsequent communication, the petitioner changed his travel program and requested the Department to grant him leave for the period from 02.06.1997 to 30.06.1997. On 17.06.1997 the petitioner submitted his T.A. Bill. However, on inquiry, it was found that the petitioner had falsely claimed the amount of T.A. Bill. THErefore, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the petitioner and ultimately, the punishment of dismissal from service was passed against the petitioner.
(3.) IT transpires from the record that the petitioner was granted LTC Advance of Rs.7400/- for visiting Srinagar (J & K) vide order dated 20.03.1997. Against the Advance so sanctioned, the petitioner submitted an LTC claim on 17.06.1997. However, as the respondent-Department had some doubts regarding the veracity of documents submitted by the petitioner, along with his LTC claim, it asked the petitioner to clarify certain discrepancies. The petitioner was asked to supply the Railway Tickets or to furnish their PNR numbers. The petitioner was also asked to furnish the address of the place where he stayed during his visit. However, the petitioner did not furnish any of the above details. The petitioner also refused to accept two official communications, viz. dated 17.07.1997 and 02.07.1997, issued by the respondent-Department. On necessary inquiry, the respondent-Department found that the LTC claim of the petitioner was fraudulent.