1. The petitioner was an employee of the respondent-Devaswom Board. On 7 61972 he was kept under suspension pending enquiry into certain charges. An enquiry was conducted. The enquiry officer submitted his report to the disciplinary authority. The petitioner objected to the manner in which the enquiry was conducted He complained that he was not given a reasonable opportunity to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses. His objection was accepted by the Board. The Board therefore ordered a fresh enquiry against the petitioner by order dated 6-1-1975. By this time three years had elapsed from the date on which the petitioner was suspended. In the mean lime the petitioner had reached the age of superannuation and retired from service of the Board on 131974. Thus on the date on which the Board ordered a fresh enquiry, the petitioner was not a servant of the Board. However, a fresh enquiry was held. The enquiry officer submitted his report on 5-11-1977 finding the petitioner guilty of most of the charges. By Ext.P3, the Board rejected the petitioner's objections as regards the merits of the report. The petitioner was asked by Ext.P2 dated 31-3-1978 to show cause why the punis