JUDGMENT :

J.J. MUNIR, J.

1. The petitioner, Suresh Babu, challenges an order of punishment dated 07.06.2023, by which he has been dismissed from service and a sum of Rs.3,46,23,208/- directed to be recovered from him.

2. The petitioner was appointed a Technician Grade-II (Vidyut) after being selected by the U.P. Electricity Service Commission, Lucknow. He was posted with the Vidyut Vitran Khand-I, Baghpat w.e.f. 11.02.2008. He worked as Technician Grade-II (Vidyut) for the period 11.02.2008 to 08.03.2019 in the establishment of the Executive Engineer, Vidyut Vitran Khand-I, Baghpat. He was promoted to the post of a Junior Engineer under orders of the Chief Engineer (Hydel), Lucknow w.e.f. 08.03.2019. The petitioner was transferred and relieved from the office of the Executive Engineer, Vidyut Vitran Khand-I, Baghpat to join his station of transfer. He joined as Junior Engineer at the Vidyut Vitran Khand-I, Loni, District Ghaziabad, where he discharged his duties on the said post up to 15.05.2019.

3. By an order of May the 16th, 2019, the petitioner was placed under suspension pending inquiry and attached to the office of the Executive Engineer, Vidyut Vitran Khand-I, Loni, District Gh