Hon’ble Rajan Roy, J.—Heard Shri Ashok Khare learned senior counsel assisted by Shri Siddharth Khare, for the petitioner and Smt. Subhash Rathi, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the respondents and also perused the record.

2. In pursuance to our order dated 2.5.2014, Smt.Subhash Rathi, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel has produced before us the relevant records pertaining to the disciplinary proceedings conducted against the petitioner. The documents provided by the learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel are taken on record.

3. By means of this writ petition the petitioner has challenged the order dated 5.3.2014 passed by the State Government imposing a punishment of reduction to the minimum/initial pay-scale of Executive Engineer which is a major punishment under the U.P. Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999 (for short Rules of 1999).

4. On 12.7.2011, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the petitioner in respect of certain irregularities committed by him while posted as an Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department at Hathras and the Chief Engineer (Maintenance & Evaluation), Irrigation Department was appointed as Enqui