MOHIT KUMAR SHAH, J.:–The instant case has been taken up for consideration through the mode of Video conferencing in view of the prevailing situation on account of COVID 19 Pandemic, requiring social distancing.

2. The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the order passed by the Engineer-in-Chief (Headquarter), Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar, Patna dated 28.09.2018, whereby and whereunder the petitioner has been inflicted with the punishment of reduction to two lower scale in time scale of pay permanently and further it has been directed that the petitioner shall not be paid any pay increments in future. The petitioner has also prayed for quashing of the order dated 04.10.2019, passed by the Additional Secretary, Water Resources Department, Bihar, Patna, whereby and whereunder the appeal of the petitioner has been rejected.

3. The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner was initially appointed on the post of Junior Engineer, in the Water Resources Department, Bihar, Patna on 25.04.1988 and was posted at Chapra, whereafter he was transferred to various places and finally when he was posted at Bagmati Division, Runni Saidpur, Sitamarhi on the post