JUDGMENT :

J.J. MUNIR, J.

1. The petitioner, an Office Assistant-II in the employ of the Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, is aggrieved by his dismissal from service, after disciplinary proceedings taken against him and affirmation of that order in departmental appeal and revision.

2. The petitioner was an Office Assistant-II in the Office of the Superintending Engineer, Electricity Distribution Division, Amroha, Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, 33/11, K.V. sub-station, Collectorate, Joya Road, Amroha, District Amroha. He was suspended from service pending inquiry vide order dated 15.06.2018 passed by the Superintending Engineer aforesaid. The Managing Director, Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited [‘the Distribution Corporation’ for short] vide order dated 14.08.2018, appointed one V.K. Pandey as the Inquiry Officer to hold a departmental inquiry. The said order was served upon the petitioner. The Inquiry Officer issued a charge-sheet dated 24.08.2018 to the petitioner, carrying seven charges.

3. The petitioner submitted his reply to the charge-sheet dated 29.11.2018, traversing the charges. It is the petitioner's case that he was summoned by the Inquiry Office