THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU WRIT PETITION No.15319 of 2010 Dated: 02.07.2010 Between: M.V.Rao …Petitioner And Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and three others …Respondents The Court made the following ORDER: The petitioner, who is working as Driver in Governerpet-I Depot, Vijayawada, was proceeded departmentally since misconduct of causing of an accident was alleged against him. After issuing a show cause notice and calling for explanation, punishment of penalty of withholding of two annual grade increments for a period of two years with cumulative effect was imposed on the petitioner by respondent No.4, by order dated 22.06.2009. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner preferred an appeal to respondent No.3, and the latter rejected the same by order dated 27.10.2009. Thereafter, the petitioner preferred a review appeal to respondent No.2, who, by order dated 11.05.2010, modified the punishment imposed by respondent No.4 to that of withholding of one annual grade increment for a period of one year with cumulative effect. Hence, this writ petition. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that no detailed enquiry was conducted by the authorities before imposing the major punishment of stoppage of increments with cumulative effect. The law is well settled that when a major punishment of penalty of stoppage of increments with cumulative effect is imposed, the delinquent officer shall be proceeded with after a detailed enquiry is conducted. In this case, admittedly, no detailed enquiry was conducted before imposing the punishment of stoppage of increments with cumulative effect. Therefore, the orders passed by the primary authority on 22.06.2009 and the reviewing authority on 11.05.2010 are liable to be set aside. Accordingly, they are set aside. However, it is made clear that the petitioner shall suffer withholding of one annual grade increment without cumulative effect from the date of its imposition. All the increments due to the petitioner till 01.07.2010 shall be restored notionally and it is further made clear that the petitioner is not entitled to any arrears of salary etc., in view of this order. Subject to the above, the writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. ______________ C.V.RAMULU,J Dated 2nd July, 2010 vrn