1. The petitioner had approached the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal, by filing Original Application No.9412 of 2000, challenging the order of removal from service. The said Original Application was transferred to the file of this Court on abolition of the Tribunal and renumbered as W.P.No.32056 of 2005.

2. The petitioner, M.Rajendran, while serving as a Village Administrative Officer in Uthamanoor Village, Illayangudi Taluk, Sivaganga District, was trapped and arrested on 29.08.89 at 8.30 hrs. by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Anti Corruption, on the ground that he demanded and accepted Rs.50/- as bribe from Santhiagu S/o Soosai, Kodimangalam Village, for recommending transfer of patta in the name of Santhiagu in respect of his land in S.No.149/8 of Kundukulam Village. Therefore, the Deputy Superintendent of Police has filed a criminal case against him and charge sheet was laid before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Sivaganga. But, the said criminal case was ended in acquittal by the Chief Judicial Magistrate. Thereafter, the departmental proceedings were initiated against him.

The disciplinary authority, after receiving the enquiry officers report, impo