JUDGMENT :

1. Heard Sri Ashok Khare, learned Senior Advocate, assisted by Sri Aditendra Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner; Sri Ashish Mishra, learned counsel for the High Court and Sri Nimai Das, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State-respondents.

2. The present writ petition has been filed to assail the penalty order passed by the State Government dated 16.04.2021, communicated to the petitioner by the Registrar(J)(Confidential), High Court Allahabad vide letter dated 28.05.2021. Thereby, the petitioner -then serving as Additional District & Sessions Judge, Lalitpur has been removed from service, with immediate effect. The petitioner was appointed to the Uttar Pradesh Civil Service (Judicial) in the year 2001. In 2013, he was promoted and thus appointed to the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service. While serving as Additional District & Sessions Judge, Meerut, first Charge Sheet dated 08.08.2016 was issued to the petitioner. Again, on 20.03.2017 a second Charge Sheet was issued to the petitioner.

3. The first Charge Sheet dated 08.08.2016 led to institution of Departmental Inquiry No. 21 of 2015, on the following four charges :

"1. That you with the help of yo