The petitioner has sought for a writ of mandamus, directing the Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Home Department, Madras, respondent herein, to include his name in the ‘C’ list of Inspectors of Police fit for promotion to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Category I, for the year 1994-95 with all consequential service and monetary benefits and for further orders.

2. Facts of this case are as follows:

The petitioner entered Police Department as Sub Inspector of Police in the year 1966, as a directly recruited candidate and thereafter, was promoted as Inspector of Police on 25. 1980. He had a unblemished record of service and earned 250 rewards with 11 Meritorious certificates to his credit. Besides, he was also awarded Chief Minister’s Medal for his outstanding service in the year 1995. During 1994, when the petitioner was working as Inspector of Police, Thanjavur West Police Station, he was dealt with a charge in P.R.No.220 of 1993 under Rule 3(a) of the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, for gross neglect of duty in having failed to check up the weapons in the Police Station. Though the petitioner submitted a valid expla