1. The petitioner, who was working as a Grade I Surveyor, Re-Survey Party, Neyyattinkara, in the year 1968 seeks to quash Exts. P-5 and P-7 orders, by which a minor punishment of stoppage of increment for two years with cumulative effect, was imposed on him by the Director of Survey and Land Records, which was confirmed by the Government in appeal. It is not necessary to detail the facts of the case here. Suffice it to say, that the departmental superiors found the petitioner guilty of neglect of duties.

2. Ext. P-1 is the memo issued to the petitioner by the Director of Survey and Land Records indicating the charges framed against him and calling upon him to submit his explanation within 15 days. The petitioner submitted his explanation Ext. P-2. Thereafter, Ext. P-3 was issued on 10th January 1970 by the Director of Survey and Land Records, Board of Revenue, directing the petitioner to show cause why he should not be reverted to the next lower grade permanently, for a period of five years, for his deliberate neglect of duty. He was also directed to submit his explanation, if any, within 15 days of the receipt of the order. It was also stated in Ext. P-3 that failure to