Judgment :-

Gokhale J.

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal by the appellant Bank seeks to challenge the judgment and order dated 31.1.2008 rendered by Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissing LPA No. 17 of 2008 filed by the appellant Bank with costs. The impugned judgment was rendered in an appeal arising out of the judgment dated 26.11.2007 by a Single Judge of that court whereby the Learned Single Judge had allowed the Writ Petition No. 2756 of 1986 filed by the respondent challenging his removal from service by the order of the appellant dated 17.4.1985.

3. The two impugned judgments have interfered with the order of removal on the ground of not furnishing the respondent a copy of the inquiry report before issuing the order of punishment and thereby not affording him an appropriate opportunity to defend resulting into denial of principles of natural justice causing him great prejudice. The appellant Bank has raised the question in this appeal as to whether the respondent was entitled either in law or as per the rules governing his service conditions to a copy of the inquiry report before issuance of the order of punishment.

4. Short facts leading to the appeal