The petitioner, a casual driver, working in the 2nd respondent Corporation (APSRTC), was removed from service on 27.03.2003 on an allegation of certain misconduct on his part. Initially, before taking the eventual step of removing the petitioner from service or disengaging him as he was only a casual employee, the Corporation ‘put him off duty’ for a certain period. In that context, the petitioner filed the present writ petition claiming that he ought to have been paid full wages for the period from 03.05.2002 to 27.03.2003, for which period he had been kept under put off duty, since it is without any regulatory support.

The facts in brief are that on 02.05.2002 while the petitioner was driving the bus of the Corporation, it met with an accident. Initiating departmental proceedings, the Corporation issued a charge sheet on 22.05.2002, apart from putting the petitioner off duty on the said date. Not satisfied with the explanation submitted by the petitioner in response to the charge sheet, the Corporation issued orders of disengagement through proceedings dated 26.12.2002, based on the enquiry report dated 14.12.2002.

Later on 12.03.2003, the respondent Corporation issued fu