1. Heard both sides.

2. The petitioner has filed O.A.No.6762 of 1997, seeking to challenge the order of the first respondent, dated 22. 1997 in G.O.(3D) No.21, Agriculture Department, wherein by which the petitioner was imposed with the punishment of stoppage of increment for 3 years with cumulative effect.

3. On notice from the Tribunal, the first respondent has filed a detailed reply affidavit, dated 29.01.1998. In view of the abolition of the Tribunal, the matter stood transferred to this court and was renumbered as W.P.No.31218 of 2006. At the relevant time, the petitioner was working as an Assistant Executive Engineer, Tank Irrigation and Modernisation Circle, Virudhunagar. Even at the time of filing of the O.A., he was 55 years old and had reached the age of superannuation during the year 2000 and had retired from service.

4. The petitioner was placed under suspension by an order, dated 210. 1987. He was also given a charge memorandum under Rule 17(b) of the TNCS (D&A) Rules. The major allegation against the petitioner was that the quality of on farm development (OFD) executed by him was poor and there was a misuse of cement supply for the use in the scheme work