(1.) In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 and Clause (5) of Article 148 of the Constitution and after consultation with the Controller and Auditor-General in relation to persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, the President was pleased to make a set of rules known as the Central Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, 1955, providing, inter alia, for a code of conduct for certain classes of civil servants.
(2.) It is undisputed that the rules were made on 7th March 1955 and were published in the Gazette of India on 12th March 1955. According to the affidavit-in-opposition, the rules were circulated by the Central Board of Revenue to different offices subordinate to it, on 22nd April 1955, and by the Customs Office in Calcutta to its officers on 11th June 1955.
(3.) The petitioner alleges that he came to know of the rules on 27th August, 1956 but I would much rather proceed on the basis that the rules were brought to the notice of the petitioner either on 11th June 1955 or shortly thereafter or that the petitioner had ample opportunity of knowing of the rules after 11th June 1955.