1. Heard learned senior counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Respondents.

2. The petitioner in the present writ application seeks quashing of the order dated 31.03.2008 passed by the Assistant General Manager (Disciplinary Authority), UCO Bank, Bhagalpur whereby he has been compulsorily retired by way of punishment. The petitioner also challenges the order dated 28.07.2008 passed by the General Manager, Personnel Service (Appellate Authority) whereby the petitioner’s appeal against the said order of compulsory retirement has been rejected.

3. Facts of the case which are not in dispute are that a disciplinary proceeding was initiated against the petitioner with the issuance of chargesheet on 10.02.2007. The petitioner was charged of having fraudulently withdrawn certain amount from the account of a dead account holder and deposited such fraudulently withdrawn amount in the account of his daughter Rina Kumari. The petitioner at the relevant point of time was posted as a Substaff in Bonshi branch of UCO Bank.

4. From the reading of the chargesheet, it will appear that the petitioner was charged of having withdrawn a total sum of rupees o