JUDGMENT :

Heard learned advocate Mr.Yogesh Ravani for the petitioners and learned Assistant Government Pleader Mr.Rohan Shah for the respondent State, at length.

2. By presenting this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, the two petitioners have prayed to direct the respondent to drop the departmental inquiry initiated against them pursuant to chargesheets dated 18th January, 2010 which was followed by preliminary inquiry dated 19th October, 2004.

3. The relevant facts in the background are that the two petitioners were posted as Deputy Executive Engineers in the Road & Building Department and had with them the charge of Panchayat Sub Division, Ahmedabad. At that time, which was the period between 1997 and 2000, certain construction works of road etc. were undertaken by the Panchayat Sub Division. The petitioners were served with the chargesheet in relation to the alleged irregularities in respect of the construction work supervised by them.

3.1 Petitioner No.1 was served with chargesheet dated 18th January, 2010 in which it was stated that when the petitioner was posted between 01st April, 1997 to 15th July, 2000 at District Panchayat, Ahmedabad in capacity of Deputy Execu