ORDER :

Prayer : Writ Petition filed Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to the order dated 30.08.2016 issued by the 2nd respondent in Memo No.491-19167-T3-TNSTC 2016, imposing him the punishment of stoppage of increment for a period of one year, quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to provide the petitioner suitable alternative employment/light job/office-desk work w.e.f. from 26.12.2015 with continuity of service, backwages and pay protection and all other service and consequential benefits and restore and credit the leave granted and sanctioned to him for the period from 25.12.2015 to 31.01.2016 to his leave account.

The punishment of stopping of increment for one year imposed on the writ petitioner is under challenge in the present writ petition.

2. The petitioner was working as Driver in the respondent Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Salem) Ltd., A charge memorandum was issued with an allegation of unauthorized absence and the petitioner submitted his explanation denying the charges and the learned counsel for the petitioner states that without conducting any prope