JUDGMENT :

Heard Mr. S. Borthakur, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. P.K. Roy, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. S.K. Chakraborty, learned Standing Counsel for FCI.

2. The petitioner before this Court was employed as an employee of the Food Corporation of India (herein after referred to as the FCI in short) at the relevant point in time where he was holding the charge of Assistant Grade-II. The petitioner was recruited in services of the FCI in the year 1977 and had completed about 34 years of unblemished service. While he was serving as an Assistant Grade-II, the petitioner was served with a charge-sheet/memorandum by the General Manager(R), FCI, Regional Office, Guwahati vide No. V&S.21(11)/2010/9875 dated 23.10.2010, whereby the petitioner was charged with causing shortage of about 3944/4077 bags which amounted to 2021.10 quintals of food grains and also shortage of 68 numbers of Gunny bags from Shed no.2 during July, 2010 and September, 2010 respectively.

3. The petitioner in his reply denied all the allegations and charges made against him with a prayer to hear him in person. The Disciplinary Authority being dissatisfied with the replies submitted by the