By consent, this writ petition is taken up for disposal at the admission stage itself.

2. This writ petition is filed for issuance of writ of mandamus directing the respondents to permit the petitioner to have the assistance of Shri Shernik Runwal, Retired Senior Vigilance Officer, Western Railway as petitioner's Defense Assistant in the departmental enquiry pursuant to the charge memo issued by the first respondent dated 14.08.2015.

3. The case of the petitioner is that he was employed as General Manager - Finance & Accounts in the Southern Regional Office of the Container Corporation of India. The first respondent issued a charge memo dated 14.08.2015 containing 19 charges, for which the petitioner submitted his reply on 10.09.2015. The first respondent appointed the third respondent as the enquiry officer.

4. The petitioner would further state that by letter dated 05.11.2015, the petitioner nominated Shri Shernik Runwal, Retired Senior Vigilance Officer, Western Railway as petitioner's Defense Assistant, but the third respondent, vide letter dated 07.11.2015 rejected the nomination of the petitioner informing that the petitioner has to nominate only an employee of the Resp