Verma, J. -

1. The original respondent was working as Forest in the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh. He was promoted as Deputy Ranger in the year 1962 and, thereafter, as Forest Ranger in June 1975. A departmental proceeding was initiated and a charge-sheet was issued against the original respondent on 22.8.1984, in respect of some misconduct alleged to have been committed by him while he was posted as Forest Ranger-in-Charge of Departmental Operations of Coupe No. 11, 12 and 13 of Chandigarh. While the department proceedings were pending, the original respondent retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation on 31.8.1985. Thereafter, the Inquiry Officer submitted his inquiry report on 30.5.1988 and the disciplinary authority passed an order on 1.6.1991 directing inter alia for recovery of loss of Rs.4,10,071.84 alleged to have been caused by the original respondent to the Government.

2. Aggrieved by the said order dated 1.6.1991, the original respondent filed OA No. 996/1992 before the Madhya Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, Jabalpur, and by order dated 22.5.1998 the said Tribunal held that the order was vitiated because the said order had not been passed by t