JUDGMENT :

1. As Senior Slore Supervisor at Vijayawada, petitioner while on leave from December 1, 1982, to January 15, 1983, contested on December 10, 1982, as a candidate on behalf of the Communist Party of India at the General Elections as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Obviously, he lost in the election. Thereafter, he cancelled 5 days leave to his credit and sought to join duty on January, 1983. A charge-memo was given him on January 12, 1983, to explain why he should not be removed from service on the ground that he contested elections contrary to Regulation 23(1) of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation Employees (Conduct) Regulations, 1963, (for short ‘the Conduct Regulations), and also Note 2 (XV) to Regulation 9(1) of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation Employees (Classification, Control and Appeal) Regulations, 1967, (for short ‘the CCCA Regulations’). The petitioner submitted his explanation. An enquiry was conducted giving reasonable opportunity to the petitioner. The petitioner was issued second show-cause notice. On consideration of the material and the explanation the petitioner was removed from service by order dated October 31,