' MOAZZAM HAYAT (MEMBER).---Appellant Muhammad Nawaz Mirza joined Pakistan Railways on 21- 8-1967 as Lower Division Clerk. He was approved for promotion as Head Ticket Inspector and assigned the duties of that post on 29-5-1998. On 16-11-1999 a show-cause notice was issued to him wherein serious allegations of misconduct were levelled against him. It appears that the appellant did not file reply to the show-cause notice and as a consequence thereof he was dismissed from service vide order dated 27-11-1999. Against his dismissal he filed a departmental appeal on 7-12-1999 which was partly accepted by the Appellate Authority vide his order dated 27- 1-2000. The penalty of dismissal imposed upon him was converted into reversion as TCR Grade-I for a period of three years. This penalty of reversion has been challenged by the appellant through his present appeal filed under section 4 of Service Tribunals Act, 1973. He has prayed for setting aside of the order dated 27-1-2000.
2. The appeal is resisted by the respondents. It is submitted that the appellant had committed serious misconduct, therefore, he was proceeded against strictly in accordance with the rules and awarded penalty which he deserved.
3. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties and have also perused the record.
4. The learned counsel for the appellant has vehemently argued that show-cause notice dated 16- 11-1999 was never served upon the appellant; therefore, he could not file his defence reply.
According to the learned counsel no regular inquiry was held against the appellant and he was condemned unheard.
5. From the record it is established that show-cause notice was never served upon the appellant.
The appellant was thus deprived of an opportunity to defend himself. Serious charges of misconduct had been reveled against him but no inquiry was held against him to determine the true facts. We are of the view that E&D Rules were not followed by the Competent Authority as well as by the Authorized Officer inasmuch as even the show-cause notice was not served upon the appellant. Thus the entire proceedings taken against the appellant are illegal.
6. For the above reasons we accept the appeal and set aside the impugned order. The respondents may, if they so desire, initiate fresh proceedings against the appellant in accordance with the prescribed rules.
7. There shall, however, be no order as to costs, Parties be informed.