ORDER

1. Leave granted.

2. On 13th of December, 2007, this Court issued notice on this Special Leave Petition and passed the following order :-

"Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the respondent has already been

reinstated.

Issue notice limited to the question of payment of 50 per cent of the back wages.

In the meantime, execution proceedings are stayed."

3. From the office report dated 7th of August, 2008, it appears that as per an order passed by the learned Registrar of this Court dated 31st of March, 2008, Dasti notice was issued to the sole respondent and an affidavit of service has been filed by the petitioner stating therein that the sole respondent has already been served. In spite of service, no one appeared on his behalf at the time of hearing of the appeal.

4. Having heard the learned counsel for the appellant and considering the facts that the service of the respondent was terminated as he was unauthorisedly absent from duty from 15th of February, 1984 to 3rd of March, 1984 and after the order of termination respondent had not worked for a long time with the appellant board till he was reinstated, we feel it appropriate to modify the award in question to the exten