Heard Mr. B.K. Bhattarcharjee, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Mr. S.N. Sarma, learned Senior Counsel for the respondents.

2. This petition has been filed under article 226 of the Constitution of India for quashing of order dated 19-02-2009 issued by the Chairman and Managing Director, Oil India Limited imposing the minor penalty of “censure” on the petitioner.

3. Facts of the case may be briefly noted.

4. Petitioner joined service in the Oil India Limited (OIL) as Accounts Clerk in Grade III on 18-07-1983. He was posted at Bay Exploration Project of OIL at Bhubaneswar. In the course of his service, petitioner became Manager (F & A), OIL and was posted at Duliajan.

5. While he was serving at Duliajan, General Manager (F & A) acting as the Disciplinary Authority issued memorandum dated 10-03-2005 informing the petitioner that an enquiry was proposed to be held against him under Rule 25 of OIL Executives Conduct, Discipline and Appeal Rules, 1982, as amended (1982 Rules). The substance of the imputation of misconduct, which will be referred to in detail at a subsequent stage of the judgment, was the alleged leniency shown by the petitioner towards M/S ATS while he was fu