P VENKATESH Vs. REGIONAL MANAGER APSRTC

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The order dated 31.3.1994 of respondent No.1 who modified the orders passed by respondent No.3 and as confirmed by respondent No.2 in removing the petitioner from service and substituting the same with the punishment of reducing the petitioner's pay by two incremental stages for a period of two years with cumulative effect apart from treating the period from the date of his removal till he reports for duty as not on duty for all purposes, is questioned in this writ petition.

(2.) The petitioner was appointed as Driver in Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (for short 'the Corporation') on 28.12.1979 and posted at Dilsukhnagar depot. On 24.6.1981 he was transferred to Uppal Depot and later to Kushaiguda depot in the year 1989. The petitioner absented to his duties unauthorisedly from 11.2.1990 to 15.4.1990. Before his absence, he reported sick and took treatment in APSRTC Hospital, Tarnaka from 11.1.1990 to 10.2.1990.

(3.) In view of the petitioner's unauthorized absence from 11.2.1990, a charge sheet was issued on 17.4.1990 by framing two charges which read as under: