Heard the arguments of the learned counsel for the parties and have perused the records.

2. The petitioner was appointed as a Pioneer in the GREF on 27. 1966. Subsequently, he was promoted as a Store man w.e.f. 19. 1968. Thereafter, through the selection made by the Departmental promotion Committee (DPC), he was promoted as Store Keeper (Technical) at the Eastern Store Division, GREF, Tezpur in Assam on 17. 1983. He was given a charge-memo dated 26. 1990 stating that the H.S.L.C. Examination Certificate produced by him was not genuine and with that fake certificate, he had unjustly obtained promotion. He had also violated Rule 3(1)(i) and (iii) of the Central Services Conduct Rules, 1964.

3. An enquiry was conducted against the petitioner and he was given full opportunity to defend himself. He neither gave any written statement in the enquiry nor made any oral submission. The defence witness named by him confirmed that the H.S.L.C. Certificate produced by him was not genuine and was not issued by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur. The Enquiry Officer found him guilty and copy of the report was furnished to him. Thereafter, he was imposed with a punishment of dism