JUDGMENT :

J.J. MUNIR, J.

1. This Writ Petition is directed against an order dated 30.06.2015 passed by the Managing Director, U.P. State Warehousing Corporation, Lucknow dismissing the petitioner from service and directing recovery of a sum of Rs. 6,34,369.52. The said order has been affirmed in Appeal by the Appellate Authority vide order dated 12.01.2016. The appellate order is also under challenge.

2. Parties have exchanged affidavits.

3. Admit.

4. Heard Mr. Ashutosh Tripathi, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. O.P. Singh, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Mr. Sushil Kumar Rao, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Respondent No. 2 and the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of Respondent No. 1.

5. The petitioner was a Technical Officer posted at the U.P. State Warehousing Corporation Centre, District Allahabad. He was a permanent employee of the Corporation. The petitioner was to superannuate from service of the Corporation on 30.06.2015 upon attaining the age of 60 years. Disciplinary proceedings were instituted against the petitioner on 15.07.2014 on allegation of causing loss of ricestock at the Ghazipur Centre of the U.P. State Warehousing Corporation (for short