JUDGMENT :

(Shree Prakash Singh, J.)

1. Heard Sri Shishir Jain, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri Shailendra Kumar Singh, learned Chief Standing Counsel, Sri Pankaj Patel, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State and Sri Ajay Kumar Singh, for Varanasi Development Authority, Varanasi.

2. Under challenge is the impugned punishment order dated 24-08-2023 passed by the opposite party no. 1 and the charge no. 1 of the chargesheet dated 28-12-2021.

3. The factual matrix of the case is that the petitioner was appointed as Junior Engineer on daily wage basis in Lucknow Development Authority on 01-01-1988 and thereafter, his services were regularized and he was transferred to Varanasi Development Authority, Varanasi(hereinafter referred to as, 'VDA'). When the petitioner was posted as Junior Engineer Enforcement (Nagwan Ward) surprisingly, on 21- 07-2021, inspection of various roads in Nagwan Ward was conducted by the Vice Chairman, VDA and allegedly, unauthorized building constructions were found in progress and thereafter, a show cause notice dated 22-07-2021, was issued to the petitioner and the petitioner submitted reply to the show cause notice, on 28-07-2021. Thereaft