Barin Ghosh, J.

1. Heard both the parties.

2. Petitioner was working at Chandaur Branch of Bank of India. The said Branch was under the administrative control of Bhagalpur Regional Office of the said Bank. Petitioner was transferred from the said Branch to Saharsa Branch of the said Bank and was waiting for his reliever. The reliever of the petitioner came on 17th July, 1997 to Chandaur Branch and took over charge of the said Branch when the petitioner was not present.

3. Subsequent thereto on 30th November, 1998, a charge-sheet, containing six charges, was issued to the petitioner and thereby a disciplinary proceeding was initiated against him. On 1st June, 1999, a supplementary charge-sheet was issued to include two more charges. Petitioner did not give any affective reply to the charge-sheet or to the supplementary charge-sheet. The matter was thereupon enquired into by an Enquiry Officer. In course of enquiry, witnesses deposed on behalf of prosecution and several documents were tendered in evidence by those witnesses. Petitioner did not examine himself or anyone else before the Enquiry Officer. Before the Enquiry Officer, petitioner submitted his statements on defence.