JUDGMENT

Saurabh Banerjee, J. - The petitioner before us submits that since his appointment as Assistant Commandant in CISF and promotion as Senior Commandant, he was being deputed at different places from time to time. While posted as Sr. Commandant at Kochi Port Trust, an anonymous complaint qua a false caste certificate submitted by one Lola Ramanayya, CISF No.942290688, constable, Unit CPT Cochin, Kerala (hereinafter referred to as 'Constable') at the time of his recruitment, was received on 22.10.2013. The said caste certificate was found to be false by the Tehsildar on 16.06.2014 and by the Collector on 05.09.2014. Thus, respondents vide letter dated 24.09.2014 requested the then Senior Commandant, i.e. petitioner to initiate appropriate disciplinary action against the said Constable.

2. A perusal of records of the said Constable by petitioner revealed a false caste certificate dated 09.02.1993 and its verification report dated 05.09.2007. This prompted the petitioner to, in the light of re.: Kumari Madhuri Patil vs. Addl. Commissioner (1994) 6 SCC 241, ask the District Collector qua the authenticity of the said documents vide letter dated 07.10.2014.

3. In the interregnum, in a