THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.1462 of 2010 ORDER: The petitioner is working as Conductor in Mancherial Depot of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. A charge sheet was issued on 14.10.1998 and the petitioner submitted his explanation on 27.10.1998. Taking the same into account, the 2nd respondent passed an order, dated 25.02.1999, imposing the punishment of withholding of increment for a period of two years 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 v. 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 needs to be set aside, leaving it open to the respondents to pass fresh orders. To avoid further delay and complication in the matter, this Court is of the view that the impugned order can be treated as the one for stoppage of annual increment for a period of one year without cumulative effect. Therefore, the writ petition is partly allowed, directing that the order, dated 25.02.1999, passed by the 2nd respondent shall be treated as the one for stoppage of annual increment for a period of one year 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. ___________ 10.08.2011 JSU THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.1462 of 2011 Date: 10.08.2011 JSU [1] 1991 Supp (1) SCC 504