Amar Dutt, J. - (1.) The petitioner, who is working as a Sub -Inspector in the Central Industrial Security Force (hereinafter referred to as "the CISF") was charge sheeted on 21st of September, 1990 on two grounds, namely, himself consuming liquor and allowing a civilian to consume liquor at the main gate and criminally assaulting a Constable.
(2.) After completion of the enquiry, only charge No. 2 was found to be proved and the punishing authority imposed the penalty of "reduction of pay by three stages for a period of one year with cumulative effect. This period of one year will not earn for future increments". Though the petitioner did not file an appeal yet the matter was taken up by the Deputy Inspector General, CISF, North East Zone Headquarters, Patna, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Sub -rule (1) and (2) of Rule 49 of the Central Industrial Security Force Rules, 1969 (hereinafter referred to as "the Rules") and he had, on 14th of November, 1991 called upon the petitioner to show cause as to why the penalty imposed on him should not be enhanced to reduction of pay to the lowest time scale of pay of SI/Exe. in the pay scale of Rs. 1400 -40 -1880 EB -50 -2300 with cumulative effect. After giving the petitioner an opportunity of hearing, respondent No. 4 enhanced the penalty already imposed on the petitioner from reduction of pay by three stages for a period of one year with cumulative effect to reduction of pay to the lowest (minimum) time scale of pay of SI/Exe. In the pay scale of Rs. 1400 -40 -1800 -EB -50 -2300 with cumulative effect for a period of three years with a further direction that the petitioner will earn his increment of pay during the period of reduction and that on expiry of the said period the reduction will not have effect on postponing his future increment of pay. It is this order that the petitioner seeks to assail in this writ petition,
(3.) On behalf of the respondents, no reply was filed to controvert the factual matrix of the allegations contained in the petition.;