1. The writ petition challenges the order dated 18.8.2003 of the respondent/Board, on appeal, as communicated by the Managing Director of the respondent/Board, confirming the order of the Managing Director of the respondent/Board dated 7.2.2002, by which a punishment of stoppage of increment for three years with cumulative effect and recovery of a sum of 18,215/- towards the proportionate loss caused to the respondent/Board was imposed.

2.1. The petitioner has joined in the respondent/Board as Assistant Engineer and was subsequently promoted as Assistant Executive Engineer and posted in the Hill Area Development Project, Udhagamandalam, wherein he joined on 19.5.1986 and worked in the said place till 20.8.1987. The site in respect of the said project was stated to have been handed over on 17.5.1986 for completing the pilot water supply project to Ooty Town by April, 1987. However, as sufficient time was not given, the project had to be hurriedly carried out. During the course of the work, owing to topography of the area, the pipes utilised for laying the pipelines have burst and the petitioner was placed under suspension and a charge memo came to be issued on 21.11.1997