- (1.) HEARD the learned advocates for the respective parties.
(2.) THE facts of the case, very briefly, are as follows:-At the time when the writ petitioner/appellant was working as assistant Grade II (Depot) under the respondents-authorities, a charge-sheet dated 18th April 1999 was issued against the appellant and such charge-sheet contained charges of mis-appropriation of stocks by the appellant in connivance with other staff for pecuniary gains, failure to discharge duties honestly and faithfully contravening certain regulations of the F. C. I. (Staff) Regulations 1971 (as amended) on the part of the appellant and the appellant's failure to maintain proper depot records.
(3.) FOR a better appreciation of the said charges, the same are quoted below: - "article of Charge Framed Against Md. islamuddin Khan, Ag. II (Depot) ARDC, Khagrabari, Coochbehar Under District Manager, fcl, Coochbehar. Now Posted Under Dist. Manager (PD), FCI. Article No. I md. Islamuddin Khan, Asstt. Gr. II (Depot), while functioning (as AG. II (Depot), ARDC, Khagrabari, under District Manager, FCI, Coochbehar from 22. 11. 97 to 09. 10. 98, committed gross misconduct and irregularities. During the Annual Physical verification of stocks of rice, Wheat 86 Sugar on 31. 3. 98 at ARDC, Khagrabari glaring discrepancies and huge shortage of foodgrains and sugar were detected by the Regional P. V. Team. The discrepancies detected during the Annual Physical verification is detailed below: -1. Rice 2,929 short (bags)2. Sugar (Levy) 201 b/s. short stack 1b/13 3. Wheat (Ind) 1391 b/s. found excess;