JUDGMENT

Misra, J. - The present petition for special leave is directed against the order of the High Court dated 5th of March, 1982, dismissing the petition under section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The petition was dismissed in limine after hearing the counsel at some length on 29th April, 1982, for reasons to be recorded later. We now proceed to give the reasons.

The petitioner was appointed in the year 1961, as Sectional Officer (Overseer) in the Punjab Public Works Department (Irrigation Branch) of the State of Punjab under the Punjab Public Works Department (Irrigation Branch) Overseers Engineering State Service, Class III, Rules 1955, hereinafter called the Rules.

In the year 1971-72, a project work relating to dosilting of 'Kasur Nallah' was taken up by the Irrigation Department. On 26-7-1973, on the basis of certain complaint, the Vigilance Department lodged a report at Police Station, Valtoha, alleging that various persons including the petitioner herein had committed offences under section 5 (2) read with section 5(1) (c) and (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and under sections 409,420, 461,471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.

On the basis of the s