The petitioner joined the service as an Engineer in the establishment of the respondent – M/s. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and later promoted as Deputy Manager (Shops), Foundry and Forge Division. He was granted 1½ years of study leave with pay by the management to complete his Ph.D. Course in Indian Institute of Science. He was also paid salary during the course of his studies. On 16.12.2003, a charge sheet was issued to him and he was kept under suspension. The charge sheet related to his misconduct. In the charge sheet dated 23.11.2004, the charges pertain to appointment of one Shri V. Senthil Kumar and Shri Janaki Rami Reddy as Executive Trainee (Technical) in HAL, Helicopter Division, Bangalore. The charge sheet further states that the list of documents and the list of witnesses which the Articles of Charges indicated in Annexure-I are proposed to be proved as indicated in Annexures-II and III. The allegations as raised in the charge sheet would constitute misconduct and violation of the HAL Conduct, Discipline and Appeal Rules, 1984, under which Rules 4 and 5 have been referred. The charge sheet accompanied with Annexure-I, imputation of misconduct is with regard to