JUDGMENT :

B.R. SARANGI, J.

The petitioner, who was working as a Sales Assistant under the Orissa State Handloom Corporation, has filed this application seeking to quash the order of punishment imposed in Annexure-4 dated 01.02.1996, by which the petitioner was removed from service with a further direction to recover a sum of Rs.1,35,083.50 and the period of suspension w.e.f. 26.08.1995 till the date of removal has been directed to be treated as such, and further seeks to quash the confirmation order of removal by the appellate authority in Annexure-5 dated 14.12.2001.

2. The factual matrix of the case in hand is that the petitioner, having been duly selected, joined as Attendant-cum-Watchman in Orissa State Handloom Corporation in the year 1977. Thereafter, he was promoted to the post of Sales Assistant by the Managing Director of the Corporation w.e.f. 17.05.1982. The petitioner was posted at Odissi, Kantabanjhi Branch as Branch Manager and continued till 07.02.1988 and, then, he was transferred to Head Office of the Corporation at Bhubaneswar. While he was so continuing, vide letter dated 19.09.1988, the petitioner was called upon to explain about the shortage of Rs.1,13,509.60 in