JUDGMENT

Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, J. The challenge in this petition is to an order dated May 10, 2023 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (hereinafter, referred to as the `Tribunal') in O.A. No.259/2022, whereby the Tribunal dismissed the O.A. preferred by the petitioner seeking following reliefs:

"A. Quash and set aside impugned orders dated 01/09/2021, 29/05/2020 and 19/05/2020;

B. Direct the Respondents to treat the intervening period between 21/04/2020 and 14/10/2020 as period spent on duty, and award all consequential benefits thereto;

C. Direct the respondents to pay the deducted salary for the period between 21/04/2020 and 14/10/2020;

D. In the alternative to prayer B & C, direct the respondents to treat the period between 21/04/2020 and 14/10/2020 against accumulated earned leave for the year 2020 and pay the deducted salary for the period between 21/04/2020 and 14/10/2020; and

E. Award cost of the proceedings."

2. In brief, a departmental inquiry was initiated against the petitioner under the provisions of Delhi Police (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1980 vide office order dated November 11, 2020 for unauthorizedly absenting for a period of about 05 months 22 days, with