ORDER

Shivaraj V. Patil, J.-Leave granted.

2. In this appeal, the appellants have questioned the legality, validity and correctness of the impugned order. The appellants filed a petition before the High Court for quashing the entire criminal proceedings including the order dated 4.2.2000 by which the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patna, had taken cognizance for the offences under Sections 341, 323, 504/34 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint filed by the respondent No. 2.

3. The appellant no. 1 was the Chairman of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, Patna. Prior to joining the Board, he served as Professor in the Department of Geology, Patna University and he had teaching experience of 26 years. The respondent No. 2 was an employee of the Pollution Control Board. On account of certain irregularities and misconduct, he was dismissed from service after holding enquiry. He challenged the order of dismissal before the High Court in a writ petition. He lodged the F.I.R. at Harijan Police Station (Patna Sadar) alleging that right from the day he filed the writ petition, he was pressurized by the officials of the Pollution Control Board to withdraw the said writ petition