JUDGMENT :

Dr. B.R.Sarangi, J.

The petitioner, who was working as Junior Accountant in the Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (in short hereinafter referred to as “O.S.R.T.C.”) has filed this application seeking to quash the order of his compulsory retirement dated 10.06.1999 under Annexure-10 passed by the Managing Director, OSRTC and reinstate him in service with all service benefits as admissible to his post.

2. The short facts of the case in hand are that the petitioner was appointed as Accounts Clerk in OSRTC on 16.12.1974 and promoted to the rank of Jr. Accountant in April, 1994. While so continuing, he was elected as the President of the State Transport Workers” Federation and indulged in Union activities. Subsequently, he applied for his voluntary retirement vide Annexure-1 dated 30.04.1998 and the same was forwarded to the Managing Director by the District Transport Manager, Cuttack on the same day vide Annexure-2. He was communicated on 26.11.1998 that his application for voluntary retirement was not accepted vide Annexure-3. When another Voluntary Retirement Scheme was introduced by the OSRTC, he also applied for the same vide Annexure-4 dated 15.04.1998, pursuant to