1. Heard both sides.

2. The petitioner filed O.A.No.9412 of 1997, seeking to challenge an order of the second respondent, dated Nil/08/97, by which he was imposed with the punishment of reduction in rank from the post of Assistant to that of Junior Assistant with the starting scale of pay on permanent basis. Even at the time of filing of the original application, the petitioner had reached the age of superannuation and retired from service.

3. In view of the abolition of the Tribunal, the matter stood transferred to this court and was renumbered as W.P.No.13344 of 2006.

4. The petitioner during the year 1979 was working as a Rural Welfare Officer. He was given a charge memo under Rule 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules. The charge against the petitioner was that he manipulated the records relating to Intensive Manure Scheme (IMS) loan and granted loans in the name of fictitious persons, who were not the actual residents of the village. He also connived in fabricating the records with the Village Karnam and forged the signature of the village Headman. The petitioner submitted his explanation, dated 012. 1979 and denied the charges.

5.