IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA, CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.14029 of 2010 Date of Decision: August 09, 2010 Dharam Pal .....PETITIONER(S) VERSUS State of Punjab & Others .....RESPONDENT(S) . . . CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAI LAMBA PRESENT: - Mr. R.K. Chopra, Senior Advocate, with Ms. Maninder, Advocate, for the petitioner(s). . . . AJAI LAMBA, J (Oral) 1. This civil writ petition has been filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus, directing respondent No.1 i.e. State of Punjab through the Secretary to Government, Department of Education, Punjab, to decide appeal dated 22.2.2010 (Annexure P-4) filed by the petitioner against Order dated 5.10.2009 (Annexure P-3) whereby punishment of stoppage of one annual increment without cumulative effect has been imposed under the CWP No.14029 of 2010 [2] Punjab Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 1970. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner is scheduled to retire on 30.9.2010. The petitioner filed an appeal (Annexure P-4) against order of punishment, Annexure P-3. No decision on appeal (Annexure P-4) has been taken although more than five months have gone by. 3. Notice of motion. 4. Ms. Charu Tuli, Senior Deputy Advocate General, Punjab, on the asking of the Court, accepts notice. Requisite number of copies of the petition have been given to the learned counsel for the respondents in Court. 5. On request of learned counsel for the parties, the matter is taken up at this stage itself for final adjudication in view of the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. 6. Learned counsel for the respondent- State contends that indeed the appeal (Annexure P-4) filed by the petitioner needs to be decided within a reasonable period of time and in any case, before the date of retirement of the petitioner. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this petition is CWP No.14029 of 2010 [3] allowed. 8. In view of the fact that the petitioner is scheduled to retire in September 2010, respondent No.1 is directed to take decision on appeal dated 22.2.2010 (Annexure P-4) filed by the petitioner, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. The respondent shall pass a speaking and reasoned order which would be conveyed to the petitioner. 9. Copy of the order be given dasti. (AJAI LAMBA) August 09, 2010 JUDGE avin 1. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 2. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest?