Shree Chandrashekhar, J. - (1.) With consent of the learned counsel for the parties both the writ petitions have been heard together and are disposed of by a common order.
(2.) Issue raised by the petitioner(s) is, whether the competent authority can order initiation of a departmental proceeding about 10 years after knowledge of the alleged misconduct?
(3.) Petitioner in W.P.(S) No.4903 of 2017 namely, Anand Prakash Singh was posted on the post of Superintendent of Mines at Open Cast Mines (OCP Mines), Giridih Project under the respondent-M/s C.C.L and he has superannuated from service on 31.12.2016. The petitioner in W.P.(S) No.4948 of 2017 namely, Narendra Pal Singh was functioning as Project Officer at the said Giridih Project at the relevant time and he is still serving under the respondent-M/s C.C.L.;