( 1 ) THIS group of petitions is filed by the former employees of the respondent - Gujarat Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board), whose services have been terminated by the Board by resorting to Regulation No. 113 of the Services Regulations which have been framed by the Board in exercise of powers conferred by section 79 (c) of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations ). The said regulation has been pressed into service to summarily discharge the petitioners from service on the ground of continued absence from service despite warning to return to duty. In all cases except one the petitioners who had been transferred out of their circle had not joined the duty at the transferred place despite intimations/notices having been given to them by the Board. Their absence on duty at the place of transfer was, therefore, treated as continued absence from duty under Regulation 113 of the Regulations and their services were terminated on that ground. 1. 1. In one case the petitioner had gone abroad without waiting for the grant of permission to proceed on leave by the superior officer and the same was treated to be c