JUDGMENT :

The petitioner joined as Junior Stenographer in the second respondent/Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) on 14.05.1986. He was promoted as Accountant/Account Assistant on 30.12.1997 and as Senior Accountant on 14.08.2009. On being promoted as Senior Accountant, the petitioner was posted at the head office of the second respondent. While working at the head office, the petitioner was placed under suspension and issued with Ext.P1 memorandum dated 26.05.2015, proposing to hold an enquiry against him under Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965. Along with the memorandum, the articles of charge, statement of imputations, list of witnesses and copies of documents were appended. The allegations, based on which disciplinary action was initiated against the petitioner, are as under;

The petitioner claimed and obtained reimbursement of medical expenses by producing fraudulent documents. Thereby the petitioner caused loss to the MPEDA. Three medical bills dated 20.01.2015 supported by medical certificates issued by Dr.Maya were tampered, by entering the consultation fees which Dr.Maya never charged or received from h