Arindam Sinha, J.

The writ petitioner was posted and served as Manager in the Debaipur Branch of Bank of India with effect from 13th January, 1997 to 15th November, 1998. By a letter dated 19th April, 2001 the Bank decided to proceed against the writ petitioner under Regulation 6 of its Officers’ (Discipline and Appeal) Regulations, 1976 in respect of acts of misconduct alleged to have been committed by the writ petitioner while posted as aforesaid. The charges notified to the writ petitioner were as follows:-

1. That, violating Bank’s lending norms, the petitioner had sanctioned an additional cash, credit limit of Rs.70,000/- to the borrower M/s Sephali Cycle Store, proprietor Shri Tushar Kanti Mondal and he, with an ulterior motive, enabled the said borrower Shri Tushar Kanti Mondal proprietor of M/s Sephali Cycle Store and also the borrower Shri Sanjib Kumar Mondal (PMRY Loanee) to divert the bank’s loan amount disbursed to them through S/B A/c no.3093 of Shri B.N.Pramanik for the purpose other than for which it was sanctioned.

2. That, with intent to get undue pecuniary gain for himself, he dishonestly submitted false claims for travelling expenses to the total amount of