MODI, J.—This is a writ application by Ramanand under Art.226 of the Constitution challenging his order of reduction in rank under circumstances presently to be mentioned.

2. The petitioner held the post of a Loco Foreman on the Northern Railway. He was posted at Delhi Serai Rohilla Railway Station on the 25th July, 1957. On the last-mentioned date, the Divisional Mechanical Engineer, Bikaner Division, Bikaner, served him with a charge-sheet in connection with certain complaints arising against him. The petitioner repudiated the charges, but his explanation was not considered satisfactory, and an enquiry was ordered against him by the said officer. Shri K. N. Mathur, an Assistant Mechanical Engineer was appointed Enquiry Officer. The enquiry was held from the 9th November, 1957, to the nth March, 1958. The Enquiry Officer found the petitioner guilty of all the charges levelled against him, except for a part of charge No. 2 to which we shall refer at the proper place, and was of the opinion that the petitioner was unsuitable for holding the charge of the responsible post of a loco foreman and submitted his report to the Divisional Mechanical Engineer. The latter then issued a notice

Click Here to Read the rest of this document