JUDGMENT :

SUDHIR MITTAL, J.

1. The petitioner was suspended vide order dated 20.08.2020 and his appeal has been dismissed vide order dated 25.09.2020. Both these orders are under challenge in this writ petition.

2. While suspending the petitioner, the Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad has found that he has committed serious irregularities by purchase of masks and sanitizers worth Rs. 62,24,022/- without e-tendering which was violative of Government instructions. Further, amount earned on account of interest has not been invested in a Fixed Deposit. While dismissing the appeal, The Principal Secretary to Government of Haryana, Development and Panchayats Department, Chandigarh has not only upheld the said findings but has also found that in case of an emergency, purchase should have been made after getting approval of the Deputy Commissioner and at rates approved by the Health Department.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that purchase of masks and sanitizers was essential on account of Covid-19 pandemic. The matter was of urgent nature and a lot of time would have been spent in obtaining requisite permissions or adopting the process of e-tendering, which would have defeated th