Judgment

VERMA, J.:- Leave granted.

2. The appellant, Jarnail Singh, retired from the post of Under Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on 31st March, 1986. By the Order dated 26-5-1988, the President of India directed that the full monthly pension and the entire amount of death-cum-retirement gratuity, otherwise admissible to the appellant, be withheld on a permanent basis. This direction was given on account of serious irregularities found to have been committed by the appellant in an inquiry held for the purpose and in consultation with the Union Public Service Commission. The appellant challenged this Order before the Central Administrative Tribunal which has rejected the appellants contention and dismissed the application made for quashing this Order. Hence this appeal against the Tribunals Order by special leave.

3. Notice on the petitioners special leave petition was confined only to the question. whether, by way of punishment, the payment of gratuity also could be withheld, for recovery of loss sustained by the Government. This appeal is, therefore, confined to this question only.

4. The contention of learned counsel for the appellant is that the expr