IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P. No.6340 of 2008 DATE OF DECISION: AUGUST 24, 2009 J.S. Pathania .....PETITIONER Versus Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala and another ....RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SATISH KUMAR MITTAL --- Present: Mr.Amarjit Markan, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr.Sukhbir Singh, Advocate, for the respondents. .. SATISH KUMAR MITTAL, J. (Oral) The petitioner, who is working as Senior Executive Engineer in the Punjab State Electricity Board, has filed the instant petition challenging the order dated 16.2.2006 (Annexure P3) whereby a punishment of stoppage of three increments with cumulative effect has been imposed on the petitioner in departmental proceedings as well as the order dated 3.9.2007 (Annexure P1/A), whereby the appeal filed by the petitioner against the said order has been dismissed by the respondent-Board. I have heard the counsel for the parties. The petitioner, while challenging the order of punishment of imposing stoppage of three increments with cumulative effect, had taken various grounds in his appeal. The said appeal has been rejected by the respondent-Board while observing as under:- “After deliberations, the Board rejected the appeal against C.W.P. No.6340 of 2008 -2- office order No.93 dt. 16.2.2006 of Er. J.S. Pathania, AEE, Now Sr. XEN (COE No.3835).” Counsel for the petitioner states that the order passed by the Appellate Authority is totally non-speaking and cryptic, and the said order was passed without hearing the petitioner. Counsel for the respondents could not controvert the aforesaid position that the order passed by the Appellate Authority is totally non-speaking and cryptic and the said order was passed without hearing the petitioner. In view of the aforesaid, the petition is allowed and the impugned order dated 3.9.2007 passed by the Appellate Authority is set aside, and the respondent-Board is directed to re-consider the matter afresh, and after providing an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, may finally decide the appeal by passing a speaking order, in accordance with law, within a period of three months. August 24, 2009 (SATISH KUMAR MITTAL) vkg JUDGE