( 1 ) THIS application under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India is at the instance of an applicant before the West bengal Administrative Tribunal and is directed against the order dated 27th November, 2003 passed by the Tribunal in T. A. No. 118 of 1998 by which the writ petitioner challenged the departmental proceeding, the second show-cause notice as well as the subsequent order of reversion.

( 2 ) THE facts giving rise to filing of this application may be summed up thus:-

(a) The writ petitioner was a Police Officer and has in fact retired from service on 31st May, 2002 during the pendency of the application before the Tribunal. (b) During his service tenure as a Sub-Inspector of Police, on 31st October, 1985, a truck bearing Registration No. PUM-5303 was seized in connection with Bishnupur Police Station Case No. 8 dated 31st October, 1985 under Sections 399/402 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act. (c) On the allegation of theft of four new tyres of the said truck and replacement of those by four worn out ones, a first information report was lodged by the then Officer-in-Charge on 13th February, 1986. On the basis of t