1. - The petitioner who has since retired was appointed by the Board of Directors of the respondent Government of India undertaking as Chief Technical Officer on 30.11.1978. In contemplation of the departmental enquiry, the petitioner was suspended in July 1983 vide Annexure-4 u/R. 10 of the Central Civil Services, (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 and the Chairman, Managing Director while exercising powers under sub-rule (1) and (2) of R. 18 of the CCA Rules had ordered the joint enquiry against Shri R.X. Bhalla and Shri J.P. Dhawan and the petitioner V.K. Jain for the reason that there was common charge-sheet against the aforesaid persons. The petitioner was charge-sheeted vide Annexure-6 dated 1.8.1983. One Shri A.K. Rastogi was appointed as enquiry officer. Pending enquiry, the petitioner was reinstated vide Annexure-8 without prejudice to the pendency of the enquiry and without prejudice the period of suspension at the time of conclusion of the enquiry. Ultimately, the petitioner was awarded the punishment vide Annexure-9 dated 18.3.1985 by way of reduction of two stages in the time scale of his pay for the period of two years i.e. he was not to earn in