JUDGMENT

L. NAGESWARA RAO, J.

Leave granted.

1. The Appellant was placed under suspension on 23.10.1979 while he was working as Sorting Assistant in Railway Mail Service (RMS) at Mughalsarai, in contemplation of disciplinary proceedings on the allegations of involvement in forged payments of high value money orders. An FIR was lodged against the Appellant at Mughalsarai Police Station and the case was registered as Crime No.358 of 1979 under Section 409/420 IPC. The order of suspension was revoked on 21.10.1987 pursuant to which he joined duty and worked till 28.02.1997, when he was dismissed from service in view of his conviction under Section 409, 467 and 420 IPC. He was sentenced to imprisonment for three years. The Appellant, thereafter, filed an appeal against his conviction. The Criminal Appeal filed by the Appellant was allowed and he was acquitted of the charges for offences under Section 409, 420 and 467 IPC.

2. The request of the Appellant for reinstatement after acquittal was refused on 13.06.2002. It was mentioned in the Memo dated 13.06.2002 that the Appellant could be reinstated as he was already dismissed from service more than six years ago. The order of dismissal d