JUDGMENT :

The extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court is sought to be invoked by filing this application under Article 226 of the Constitution of India whereby the petitioner has put to challenge the action of the respondent authorities in keeping the petitioner under prolonged suspension from service. The petitioner was placed under suspension vide an order dated 07.11.2017 and the first review of the suspension was done after nine months, that too, after an order of intervention by this Court. Subsequently, after more than a year the show cause notice was issued which was replied to by the petitioner. Thereafter even after expiry of almost four years, nothing has been done and the petitioner continues to be in the state of suspension.

2. To appreciate the issue involve in this case, it would be convenient if the facts of the case are stated in brief.

3. The petitioner was appointed as a Sub-Divisional Information Officer in the Department of Information and Public Relation in the year, 1987. Subsequently, upon a recommendation of the APSC, he was appointed as Director, Information and Public Relation, Assam vide an order dated 30.05.2011.

4. It appears that an FIR was lodged by the