JUDGMENT

Sanjay Kumar, J. - The petitioner, a Clerk in the Government Senior Secondary School, Chand Bhan (Faridkot), Punjab, was dismissed from service, vide order dated 16.10.2019 passed by the Director, Education Department (SE), Punjab. The same was confirmed in appeal by the Secretary, School Education Department, Government of Punjab, vide order dated 17.02.2020. Hence, this writ petition.

2. The petitioner entered the service of the Punjab Education Department as a Clerk on 20.11.1992. He was subjected to disciplinary proceedings in the year 2016 on the complaint made by the Principal of the Government Senior Secondary School, Chand Bhan, (Faridkot), that the petitioner had forged his signature on an undertaking given to a Bank while applying for a personal loan of Rs. 4.00 lakh. A preliminary inquiry was conducted and on the strength of the findings thereof, charge sheet dated 02.03.2017 was issued to the petitioner proposing to impose a major penalty upon him under Rule 5 (v to ix) read with Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970 (in short, 'the Rules of 1970').

3. By letters dated 29.08.2017 and 12.10.2017, the petitioner sought copies of cer