Hon’ble Rakesh Srivastava, J.—The order dated 31.3.2011 by means of which the petitioner has been dismissed from service with retrospective effect, is under challenge in the present writ petition.

2. On 16.5.1972 the petitioner was initially appointed on the post of Clerk/Cashier/Godown keeper on temporary basis in the Allahabad District Cooperative Bank Limited, Allahabad (for short ‘Bank’), a Cooperative Society constituted under the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Societies Act, 1965 (for short ‘Act’). The services of the petitioner were later on confirmed on the said post. On 30.9.1980 the petitioner was promoted on temporary and ad-hoc basis on the post of Branch Manager. By an order dated 29.7.2000, the petitioner was placed under suspension for the alleged irregularities committed by him during the period the petitioner was posted as Branch Manager of the Meja Branch of the Bank at Allahabad. The Senior Manager (Accounts) was appointed as Inquiry Officer to hold an inquiry against the petitioner. Subsequently, a charge-sheet dated 24.10.2000, containing in all 24 charges relating to financial irregularities, was served upon the petitioner. On 23.3.2001 the petitioner submi