THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.2684 of 2006 ORDER: The petitioner is employed as a Driver in the A.P.S.R.T.C. An accident has taken place on 22-10-1994, resulting in injuries to a boy. Disciplinary proceedings were initiated, and the petitioner was placed under suspension. A charge-sheet dated 15-12-1994 was issued. Ultimately proceedings-cum-show cause notice of suspension not on duty were issued on 27-04-1995. Punishment of withholding of an annual increment, for a period of two years, with cumulative effect was imposed. Recovery of a sum of Rs.1,000/-, towards cost of damages of the bus, was ordered. Apart from this, a show cause notice was issued to the petitioner, directing him to explain as to why the period of suspension be not treated as not on duty, and a sum of Rs.1,000/- be not recovered. The same is challenged in this writ petition. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. The procedure adopted by the respondents in imposing the punishment upon the petitioner does not accord with the Regulations framed by the Corporation, or the settled principles of law. Almost identical case was dealt with by this Court in Kottapati Jayachandra Reddy v. Depot Manager, APSRTC, Kadiri Depot[1]. Having expressed the view that the order of this nature cannot be sustained in law, this Court had converted the punishment of stoppage of increment, with cumulative effect, to the one of without cumulative effect. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the same course be adopted in this case. Hence, the writ petition is allowed in part, and the impugned order is modified to the effect that the punishment of withholding of annual increment, for a period of two years, shall be treated as the one, without cumulative effect. The petitioner shall be liable to pay a sum of Rs.1,000/- towards damage to the bus. The petitioner shall not be entitled to any monetary benefits, on account of the modification of the said order. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt:18-06-2008. KO [1] 2005 (6) ALD 247