1. The writ petitioner was holding the post of Chief Conservator of Forests in the Forest Department of the Kerala Government from 16th October 1958 onwards. But he was placed under suspension on 28th March 1967 pending enquiry into certain charges of misconduct levelled against him. It is unnecessary for the purpose of this case to narrate in detail the nature of the charges levelled against the petitioner, the defence put forward by him and the fairly long drawn out enquiries held into those charges. Suffice it to say that the charges formed the subject-matter of two separate enquiries conducted by a Tribunal specially appointed for that purpose and based on the reports submitted by the Tribunal the Government ultimately passed final orders on 17th April 1972 finding the petitioner guilty of several of the charges framed against him in agreement with the recommendation of the Public Service Commission and directing that an amount of Rs. 25 per mensem be reduced from the pension of the petitioner who had by that time retired from service on superannuation with effect from 25th January 1970 while he was under suspension. In the wake of the final order so passed in the d