`THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.24634 of 2010 ORDER: The petitioner is working as Driver in Kurnool-2 Depot of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. A charge memo was issued and the petitioner submitted his explanation. Taking the same into account, respondent No.3 passed an order, dated 22.04.2003, imposing the punishment of withholding of increment for a period of one year with cumulative effect. The same is challenged in this writ petition. It is urged that the respondents imposed major penalty against the petitioner without following the procedure prescribed therefor. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. In Kulwant Singh Gill Vs. State of Punjab[1], the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that the punishment of stoppage of increment with cumulative effect is classified as a major penalty under the relevant Service Regulations. For imposition of such a penalty, it is essential to conduct domestic enquiry. Admittedly, no such enquiry was conducted in this case. In the ordinary course of things, the impugned order must be set aside and the matter must be remanded to respondent No.3 for fresh consideration and disposal in accordance with law. However, having regard to the fact that the charge against the petitioner is trivial in nature and long time has elapsed, it is felt that the punishment can be treated as the one without cumulative effect. Therefore, the writ petition is partly allowed, modifying the impugned order to the effect that the punishment of stoppage of increment for a period of one year shall be without cumulative effect. However, the petitioner shall not be entitled to any monetary benefit that had accrued up to the date of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. ______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY,J Dt:04.10.2010. kdl [1] 1991 Supp (1) SCC 504