TAPAN SEN, J. - (1.) HEARD Mr. Sohail Anwar, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr. Pankaj Kumar, learned J.C. to Mr. A. Allam appearing for the State of Bihar. Dr. Nisha Thakur represents the State of Jharkhand.
(2.) FEELING aggrieved by an order of punishment (Annexure -8) issued on 31.08.1998 under the signature of the Respondent No. 7 (The Deputy Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar, Sichai Bhawan, Patna) imposing the punishment recorded therein, the petitioner has opted to invoke Article 226 through the instant writ Application. Upon perusal of the Writ Petition and also of the counter -affidavit filed by the Respondent Nos. 4 to 7, it appears that the petitioner received a jolt when he read a news paper publication on 10.01.1997 calling him and three other officers of the concerned Department to file an explanation in relation to a charge relating to the Ajay Barrage Project, Sikatia. In the said news paper it was intimated that the officers posted during the period 1979 -80 would have to file their explanations. The Notice indicated that the petitioner was also required to file such an explanation.
(3.) HAVING come to learn of the contents of the aforesaid notice in the news paper as contained at Annexure -1 to the Writ Petition, the petitioner immediately filed his reply on 20.01.1997 (a copy of which has been annexed and marked as Annexure -2 to the Writ Petition). It also appears on perusal thereof that the petitioner specifically mentioned that he had nothing to do with the subject matter of the allegations as he had joined the Sikalia Division only on 30.12.1988.;