Arijit Pasayat, J.

In this appeal the only point raised by the U.P. State Road Transport Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the employer) is whether the High Court was justified in interfering with the quantum of punishment awarded to the respondent no. 1- Hoti Lal (hereinafter referred to as the employee) .

2. The factual background in a nutshell is as follows :

The employee was appointed as a Conductor on 1.6.1976. On 9.7.1988 he as on duty in Bus No. UGG-168. While checking was done by the Assistant Regional Manager, it was found that 16 persons were without ticket. Even after realising fare from the passengers no ticket had been issued up to the time of checking. When the inspecting officer started checking, the employee hurriedly tried to issue tickets. Old tickets were found in his possession with the intent to use them again. Several tickets of various denominations were also recovered. These according to the authorities amounted to dereliction of duty, violation of Employees Conduct Code and misappropriation of employers money. The employee was placed under suspension on 23.7.1988. A charge-sheet containing, inter alia, aforesaid allegations was served on 16.8.1988 and