( 1 ) THE petitioner No. 1 (hereinafter referred to as `the petitioner firm ), which is a partnership firm, engaged in the manufacture and supply of power and control cables as well as telecommunication cables , has preferred this writ petition against the impugned order dated 29th January, 2002 passed by the Joint Secretary and the Chief Vigilance Officer/ respondent No. 2 banning the petitioner firm for a period five years with effect from 29th January, 2002 from having any commercial/business dealings with all departments/ministries/offices of the Government of India. Before passing this order, the respondent no. 2 had served a show cause notice dated 7th September, 1999 at the instance of the DGSandd to ban the petitioner firm on the alleged ground of evasion of excise duty. It is not in dispute that most of the supplies of the petitioner firm are with the Government departments, namely, the Railways, DGSandd and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.

( 2 ) BRIEF facts, as disclosed by the petitioner firm, which led to passing of the impugned order, may be noted at this stage.

( 3 ) IT is stated in the writ petition that in September, 1996 the officers of the Central Exc