JUDGMENT

B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.—Leave granted. Heard counsel for the parties.

2. Under the order impugned herein, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana has quashed the memo of charges communicated to the respondent-writ petitioner as well as the order appointing the enquiry officer to enquire into those charges. A further direction has been given to the appellants, viz., the State of Punjab and its authorities (respondents in the writ petition) to consider the case of the respondent for promotion according to law. The correctness of the said order is questioned by the State of Punjab and its authorities in this appeal.

3. The respondent-writ petitioner was the Superintendent of Nabha High Security Jail in the year 1986. On his transfer from the said post, he gave charge of his office on 26-12-1986. On the night intervening 1/2-1-1987 certain inmates, said to be terrorists, made an attempt to escape. In that connection, two of the inmates attempting to escape and one jail official died in the shooting which took place. Six terrorists made good their escape. The Inspector General of Prisons immediately inspected the prison and made a report to the Government on 9-1-1987. He reported inte