JUDGMENT

V. GOPALA GOWDA, J.

Delay condoned. Leave granted.

2. The appellant has questioned the correctness of the judgment and order dated 20.11.2012 passed in W.A. No.514 of 2011 by the learned Division Bench of the High Court of Madras, wherein, the learned Division Bench partly allowed the writ appeal of the respondent and upheld the judgment of the learned single Judge of the High Court to the extent of reinstatement with continuity of service but set aside the order with regard to 25% back-wages and the ‘punishment of termination’ was also modified into stoppage of increment for a period of 3 years with cumulative effect.

3. The relevant facts are briefly stated to appreciate the rival legal contentions urged on behalf of the parties in this appeal:

The appellant-K. S. Ravindran, was appointed as an Inspector on probation with the respondent-New India Assurance Co. Ltd. (for short ‘the respondent-Company’) w.e.f. 31.12.1983. The services of the appellant as Inspector Grade-I was confirmed w.e.f. 1.1.1985 by the respondent-Company vide its order dated 12.01.1985. The appointment of the appellant was governed by the Development Staff Scheme, 1976 and also by General Insurance (Cond