MOHAMMAD AYOUB BHAT Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, employees of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited have filed this petition jointly challenging the orders of respondent No. 3 issued on 10.02.2015, whereby the petitioners have been held guilty of misconduct in the disciplinary proceedings and have been awarded the punishment of "Reduction of three lower stages in the Scale". The impugned orders are part of the writ petition as annexure "D" and "E". The petitioners have also prayed for a direction to the respondents to allow them all the service benefits ignoring the orders impugned. The impugned orders have been assailed by the petitioners inter-alia on the following grounds:-

(2.) These are in nutshell the grounds of challenge taken by the petitioners to impugn the orders of disciplinary authority, i.e, respondent No. 3 inflicting upon the petitioners the minor punishment of Reduction in three lower stages in the scale in terms of clause 32(1) (d) of the Certified Standing Orders applicable to the petitioners.

(3.) The respondents have responded to the writ petition of the petitioners by filing detailed objections. The writ petition has been resisted by the respondents primarily on the following grounds:-