IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.WP No. 9312 of 2010. [O&M] Date of Decision: 16th August, 2011. Satnam Singh Petitioner through Mr. Vijay Sharma, Advocate Versus State of Punjab & Ors. Respondents through Ms. Sudeepti Sharma, DAG, Punjab. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT. 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? SURYA KANT, J. [ORAL] The petitioner was a Forest Guard in the Forest Department, Punjab. He was dismissed from service vide order dated 17.10.1996 after holding a regular departmental inquiry wherein he was held responsible for the loss of 938 trees. The petitioner preferred a departmental appeal which was not decided for years. He then approached this Court in CWP No. 5346 of 2009 which was disposed of on 02.04.2009 with a direction to the Appellate Authority to decide the said appeal. The Conservator of Forests, Ferozepur Circle has decided the said appeal vide the impugned order dated 01.06.2009 [Annexure P-7] without assigning any reason whatsoever. After a brief reference to the dates when charge-sheet etc. were issued to the petitioner or the orders passed against him, the appellate order reads as under:- “After perusing the facts presented by employee during personal hearing comments received from Forest Division Officer Bathinda and perusal of Government record, it is found that there is no weight in the appeal of employee. Therefore, the appeal of the employee is dismissed”. The petitioner is said to have raised several issues in the appeal and none of them has been dealt with by the Appellate Authority. The respondents have though filed their reply/affidavit explaining as to why the punishment of dismissal from service was justified, however, in my considered view, the reply/affidavit filed in these proceedings can not supplement the reasons to be assigned by a quasi-judicial authority, namely, the Appellate Authority. The writ petition is accordingly allowed to the extent that the impugned order dated 01.06.2009 [Annexure P-7] is set aside with a direction to the Appellate Authority to decide the appeal of the petitioner afresh by passing a speaking order. It shall be desirable if the petitioner is granted an opportunity of being heard. Let the needful be done within a period of four months from the date a certified copy of this order is received. Disposed of. Dasti. August 16, 2011. ( SURYA KANT ) dinesh JUDGE