Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Rajan Roy, JJ.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned standing counsel for the respondent-Bank. The petitioner was initially appointed as Officer Grade-I under the respondent-Bank on 17.07.1982. He was promoted to Officer Grade-II on 19.12.1996. On 11.11.2002, a charge sheet was issued to the petitioner in respect of various alleged acts of misconduct on his part. A supplementary charge sheet dated 30.08.2003 was also issued. Inquiry was conducted and the inquiry officer submitted his findings/ conclusions dated 29.03.2005 along with voluminous proceedings of the inquiry. Based thereon, a show cause notice dated 11.05.2006 was issued to the petitioner proposing a punishment of compulsory retirement from the service of the Bank. The petitioner submitted his reply dated 01.06.2006 to the aforesaid show cause notice denying the charges and rebutting the findings/ conclusions of the inquiry officer. Thereafter, the disciplinary authority, on 30.09.2006 passed the punishment order observing that the continuance of Sri Singh in the services of the Bank was not in the interest of the institution. Accordingly, the petitioner was ordered to