Judgment

VAIDIALINOAM, J.-The sole point that arises for consideration in this appeal by special leave is whether the order, dated April 26, 1964, passed by the Governor of Punjab reverting the appellant from the Punjab Education Service, Class I (Officiating Service) to the Punjab Education Service, Class II, with immediate effect, amounts to reduction in rank attracting the applicability of Article 311(2) of the Constitution.

2. The appellant when this order was passed was Principal, Government College, Muktsar and on reversion he was posted as Deputy Inspector of Schools, Agriculture, Chandigarh. The learned Single Judge, who heard Civil Writ No. 1506 of 1964, filed by the appellant to quash the said order, held by his judgment, dated September 9, 1965, that the order amounts to reduction in rank of the appellant and quashed the same. On appeal by the State of Punjab and two other officers, the Division Bench by its order, dated July 21, 1966, in Letters Patent Appeal No. 346 of 1965, set aside the order of the learned Single Judge and held that the impugned order of reversion was not passed by way of punishment and that on the other hand it was only reversion of the appellant