(1.) This is an application for the issue of a writ of certiorari to quash the order of the Government dated 4th May, 1962, made in G.O.Ms. No. 710. The necessary facts in order to appreciate the contentions raised before me are the petitioner was appointed as Sales Tax Officer on 7th February, 1951, having been directly recruited by the Public Service Commission. At the time when he filed the Writ Petition, he was working as Commercial Tax Officer, Amalapuram. Between May, 1955 and September, 1956 he was working as Sales Tax Officer, Secunderabad, 7th Circle.
(2.) While so, the petitioner received a copy of memo, dated 2nd January, 1959, addressed by the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Hyderabad to the Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Hyderabad, Sri P. Sambamurthy which stated inter alia,
(3.) The Enquiry Officer framed three charges against the petitioner and conducted enquiry. While the second charge was found not to have been proved, the Enquiry Officer found that the petitioner while working as Sales Tax Officer, 7th Circle, Secunderabad, made improper assessment of M/s. Nagalla Durgaiah, Secunderabad, for the aforesaid three years, which would have resulted in the loss of Rs. 15,804-12-6 to the State but for the re-examination and reopening of the case. The third charge also was found to have been proved, which was a consequential charge. The Enquiry Officer submitted a report to the Board of Revenue. The Government without giving the petitioner any opportunity to show cause as to why any punishment which the Government had proposed to be inflicted, should not be inflicted-and without sending a copy of the report submitted by the Deputy Commissioner, the Enquiry Officer, informed the petitioner stopping the increments for a period of two years with cumulative effect. It is this order of the Government that is now impugned in this Writ Petition.