JUDGMENT

Dr. AR. Lakshmanan, J.-Leave granted.

2. The above appeal was filed against the impugned judgment and order dated 24.7.2003 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in Civil Writ Petition No. 10285/CAT/2003 wherein the High Court as dismissed the writ petition filed by the appellant-herein and confirmed the orders of the Central Administrative Tribunal imposing the punishment of compulsory retirement.

The short facts are as follows :-

3. The appellant was appointed in the Northern Railways in Ministerial Service on 14.7.1965 and was due to retire on 31.5.2002. The appellant, while working as Head Clerk in the Northern Railways was issued a Merit Certificate, wherein his work and conduct had been highly commended. The appellant was also selected for being promoted as Office Superintendent Grade-II. However, he was not given posting of the supervisory post. A junior to the appellant was favoured with the said posting and the appellant had protested against the favoured treatment and in the process he incurred the displeasure of his superior officers, particularly, respondent No. 2. One of the employees sought for the "absentee statement of tool room shop from