Rajesh Singh Chauhan, J. - (1.) Heard Shri R.S. Tomar and Shri D.R. Shukla, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Shri R.K. Chaudhary, learned counsel appearing for U.P. Sate Warehousing Corporation and Shri Kamesh Gupta, learned counsel appearing for the Food Corporation of India.
(2.) Since the common question of law and fact is involved in the batch of these writ petitions, therefore, all these writ petitions are being decided by the common order which is applicable in all the writ petitions. The main question for consideration is as to whether any punishment order, can be passed without conducting proper inquiry strictly in accordance with law and without affording an ample opportunity of hearing. The common fact in these writ petitions are that all the petitioners are employees of U.P. State Warehousing Corporation serving on Class III posts and have been punished without conducting proper departmental enquiry.
(3.) By means of batch of these petitions the petitioners have impeached the orders issued by the competent authority of U.P. State-Warehousing Corporation whereby the petitioners have been dismissed form service under Regulation 16(1)(g) of the U.P. Warehousing Regulation, 1962 (hereinafter referred to as Regulation, 1962) and order for the recovery against the petitioners has also been passed with respect of shortage, loss / shrinkage in rice stored by the Food and Civil Supplies Department as well as Food Corporation of India under Regulation 16(3) of the Regulation, 1962.;