THIRU N. VASUDEVAN Vs. REGISTRAR GENERAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is directed against the order passed on 01.4.2016 imposing the punishment of withholding one increment for a period of one year without cumulative effect on the writ petitioner.

(2.) The order dated 01.4.2016 was communicated by the Registrar General of this High Court. The Honourable Administrative Committee, upon finding the explanation offered by the writ petitioner, who was working, at the relevant point of time, as the Principal District Munsif, Gingee, was not satisfactory, decided to proceed against him under Rule 17(a) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, according to which, orders can be passed by the Disciplinary Authority, wherever it is proposed to impose on a member of a service, any of the penalties specified under Sub-Rules (i), (ii), (iii), (v) and (ix) in Rule 8, such a member of service shall be given a reasonable opportunity of making any representation that he may desire to make and such representation may be taken into consideration before the order imposing penalty is passed. The above set out penalties are known as minor penalties.

(3.) The following facts are not in dispute :