(1) THE only question that falls for consideration in these appeals is whether an Extra Departmental Agent in the Posts and Telegraphs Department of the government of India who was "Put-off Duty" on account of pendency of departmental proceedings against him is entitled to the allowances for the period of "Put-off Duty" on his being exonerated in the departmental proceedings.

(2) THE Extra Departmental Agents system in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs is in vogue since 1854. The object underlying it is to cater to postal needs of the rural communities dispersed in remote areas. The system avails of the services of schoolmasters, shopkeepers, landlords and such other persons in a village who have the faculty of reasonable standard of literacy and adequate means of livelihood and who, therefore, in their leisure can assist the Department by way of gainful avocation and social service in ministering to the rural communities in their postal needs, through maintenance of simple accounts and adherence to minimum procedural formalities, as prescribed by the Department for the purpose.

(3) THE Extra Departmental Agents are government servants holding a civil po