ORDER

PER: RAKESH KUMAR GUPTA, MEMBER (A) 1. The applicant has filed the present Original Application under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 seeking the following relief:

a) Quash the superintendent of Post Offices, Udupi Dn, Udupi- 576101, Memo No. F4-2/2017-18 dated 10.04.2019 vide which the applicant has been removed from engagement which shall not be disqualification for further employment.

b) Quash the order No. SK/STA/9-3/05/2019 dated 20.08.2019 passed by Post Master General, South Karnataka Region, Bangalore at Annexure-

A10 vide which the appeal of the applicant against the penalty order dated 10.04.2019 has been rejected.

c) Consequently, direct the respondents to reinstate the applicant, by imposing any appropriate graded punishment, proportionate to the offence in the interest of justice and equity.

2. MA No. 372/2020 has been filed by the applicant praying for condonation of delay of 40 days in filing the OA. The reason stated in the MA is that the applicant stays at about 500 km away from Bangalore. Due to Covid pandemic, there was a strict lock down and there was no public transport in the state. Therefore