( 1 ) THE petitioner, an ex-employee of the coffee Board, has questioned the legality of the institution of disciplinary proceedings against him after his retirement.

( 2 ) THE petition is in the Order's list. By consent of the counsel appearing for the parties, it is taken up for hearing.

( 3 ) THE undisputed facts of the case, are these : The petitioner joined the service of the Board on 25-8-1943. He retired from service on 28-5-1980. By memorandum dated 5-3-1984, disciplinary proceedings, was instituted against him. The article of charges and the statement of imputation have been set out at Annexures-1 and II to the Memorandum. They read :"annexure-1 article of charges framed against sri U. M. Puttaswamy Gowda, Assistant coffea Marketing Officer, Coffee board, Chickmagalur. That Sri U. M. Puttaswamy Gowda, while functioning as Asst. Coffee marketing Officer, Coffee Board, during the period between 1-1 -1960 and 28-5-80, has committed gross official misconduct inasmuch as he failed to submit true return of the assets and liabilities giving full particulars in prescribed proforma, acquired and disposed of immovable properties without the knowledge of the prescribed