1. This writ petition is directed against the proceedings of the second respondent dated 14.7.2003 addressed to the first respondent, the consequential proceedings of the first respondent dated 17.7.2003 and the subsequent order passed by the first respondent dated 24.7.2003, dismissing the petitioner from the services of the first respondent/Food Corporation of India.

2.1. The writ petitioner has joined in the services of the first respondent/Corporation as Technical Assistant (Analyser) on 30.9.1965 and was promoted as Assistant Manager (Quality Control) in the year 1977. On his application, the petitioner was directly recruited as Deputy Manager (Administration) in the year 1986 and was promoted as Joint Manager in the year 1993 and in the year 2001, he was promoted as Manager, which post is equivalent to the post of Deputy Zonal Manager, governing the southern States, having office at Chennai.

2.2. The petitioner was issued a charge memo dated 28.2.2003, which was subsequently amended on 28.4.2003. The charges relate to the purchase of Aluminium Phosphide and as to whether the purchase was under the running rate contract and also about the calling for fresh tender, ap