Judgment

B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.

(1) LEAVE granted. Heard counsel for the parties.

(2) THESE appeals are preferred against the judgment of the division bench of the Madras High court disposing of writ appeals, preferred by the respondents, with certain directions.

(3) THE respondents, R. Rajan and C.A. Rajan, are the secretary and President respectively of the Association of Assistant Engineers in the service of the Madras Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (the Board). Disciplinary action has been initiated against them under the Madras Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Employees (Discipline and Appeal) Regulations, 1978 (Regulations). After the receipt of the Enquiry Officers report, the General Manager of the Board issued notices to the respondents calling upon them to submit their defence, if any, within seven days of the receipt of the said notices. A copy of the Enquiry Officers report along with depositions of witnesses was enclosed with the said notices. At that stage, the respondents approached the Madras High court by way of writ petitions contending that the Board is bent upon dismissing them from service, that they w