CWP No.16482 of 2007 1 IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. CWP No.16482 of 2007 Date of decision: 8.9.2008 Kuldip Singh ..Petitioner Versus Food Corporation of India & others ...Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJAN GUPTA Present: Mr. J.S. Wasu, Advocate, for the petitioners. Mr. Heman Aggarwal, Advocate, for the respondents. Ashutosh Mohunta, J. (oral) This order will dispose of four writ petitions i.e. CWP Nos. 16482, 16523, 16524 and 16525. In all the writ petitions, the petitioners have impugned the order (Annexure P-6), passed by the Executive Director (North), Food Corporation of India, whereby exoneration of the petitioners as awarded by the Disciplinary Authority, vide order dated 12th October, 2006, was set aside and they were imposed a penalty of reversion to the lower post for three years with cumulative effect (till retirement in the case of petitioner P.S. Bhogal). It was further observed that the petitioners be considered for promotion after expiry of three years if found suitable for that post along with recovery of Rs.2,00,000/- to partially set off the loss. Learned counsel for the respondents submits that the CWP No.16482 of 2007 2 petitioners have an alternative remedy to file an appeal under Regulation 74 (b) of FCI (Staff) Regulations, 1971 and therefore, the present writ petitions are not maintainable. After hearing learned counsel for the parties and in view of the stand taken by the respondents, we are of the considered opinion that the petitioners have the alternative remedy to file an appeal against the impugned order (Annexure P-6) under the aforesaid regulations. In view of the above, the present writ petitions are not maintainable and are disposed of as such. In case, the petitioners file an appeal within 15 days from today, the same shall be decided by the competent authority within a period of two months thereafter. During the pendency of the appeal before the competent authority, the impugned order (Annexure P-6) shall not be given effect to. The respondents shall also not take up the plea of limitation. (ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA) JUDGE (RAJAN GUPTA) JUDGE September 08, 2008. 'rajpal'