(1.) The Petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition as against the order dated 13.2.2003 in Na. Ka.A1-22582-2000 passed by the 2nd Respondent/District Collector in imposing the punishment of dismissal on him and the order of the 1st Respondent in Reference No. Pani.5(3)/ 20784/2003 dated 25.10.2004 in modifying the punishment of dismissal into compulsory retirement and to quash the same. Further, the Petitioner has also sought for a consequential direction being issued to the Respondents to reinstate him as Village Administrative Officer with all back wages and attendant benefits treating the entire period of non-employment as duty period with suitable compensation for the mental agony undergone thereto.
(2.) The Petitioner was selected and recruited by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission for appointment as Village Administrative Officer in the year 1981-82 and appointed as V.A.O. in Thanjavur District. He joined the post of V.A.O. on 09.7.1984. He was transferred to Virudhunagar District during the year 1995. He was posted as Additional Village Administrative Officer in Enjar Village, Sivakasi Taluk. He rendered 16 years of unblemished service as V.A.O. Also, he was discharging his duties and responsibilities lawfully to the entire satisfaction of his superiors like Zonal/Regional Deputy Tahsildar of Taluk Office, Sivakasi, Sub Collector, Sivakasi under the overall supervision and control of District Revenue Officer, Virudhunagar.
(3.) According to the Petitioner, the then Sub Collector, Sivakasi issued an interim suspension order dated 8.5.2000 followed by Charge Memo dated 9.6.2000. Moreover, he was not given the copy of documents mentioned in the Annexure to the charge memo. The imputation of s of Charges was based as per Rule 17(b) of Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1955.