JUDGMENT :

Jyotsna Rewal Dua, J.

The petitioner seeks quashing of entire disciplinary proceedings alongwith the consequent action taken thereupon by the respondents against him, which culminated in his removal from service.

2. Facts

2(i) The petitioner was posted as Registration Clerk in Tehsil Office Sarkaghat, District Mandi, H.P. in the year 1995. An audit of accounts of this office was conducted by the audit party of the Accountant General, Himachal Pradesh in the year 1997. The audit party pointed out that an amount of Rs. 83,566/- collected by the petitioner as Registration Clerk of Tehsil Office Sarkaghat, w.e.f. 01.01.1996 to 09.06.1997 from various parties on different dates, had not been deposited in the Government treasury within the stipulated period.

2(ii) Memorandum of charge was issued against the petitioner on 02.07.1997. The charge levelled was that while serving as Registration Clerk, the petitioner had collected Rs.83,566/- on different dates w.e.f. 01.01.1997 to 09.06.1997 as Registration/Inspection fee from various parties, but did not deposit the same in Government Treasury till 15.05.1997 to 19.06.1997. The petitioner had misappropriated and embezzled the money fo