LOKNATH MAHANTA Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. R. Goswami, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. D. Borah, learned Government Advocate, appearing on behalf of all the respondents.

(2.) The challenge in the present proceedings, is to an order, dtd. 21/2/2013, passed by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Personnel(A) Department, Dispur, imposing upon the petitioner a penalty of withholding of 2(two) increments without cumulative effect in pursuance of the departmental proceeding initiated against him. The petitioner has also assailed an order, dtd. 1/2/2014, passed by the appellate authority in the appeal as preferred by the petitioner against the said order, dtd. 21/2/2013, rejecting the same.

(3.) The petitioner on being selected by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), was appointed in the year 1992 as an ACS Class-I Officer and was posted as the Circle Officer-cum-Executive Magistrate at Badarpur. The petitioner joined his services on 25/5/1992 and thereafter, the petitioner riding the ladder of promotion; has reached the Senior Grade scale of pay of service. The petitioner while working as an Under Secretary to the Government of Assam in the Department of Agriculture, came to be issued with a Show Cause Notice, dtd. 21/6/2006, levelling allegations against him pertaining to the purported misconduct committed by him while serving as a Circle Officer, Sonapur Revenue Circle, Sonapur.