IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.10 of 2009 Date of Decision : November 01, 2010. Baldev Krishan Puri .....Petitioner versus Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala and others .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. Present : Mr.H.K.Brinda, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr.M.L.Saini, Advocate, for the respondents. -.- 1. Whether Reporters of Local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? --- Surya Kant, J. (Oral) The petitioner joined the respondent-Board as a Meter Reader w.e.f. 28.2.1973 and has retired as such w.e.f. 31.7.2008 on attaining the age of superannuation. The petitioner now seeks quashing of the order dated 22.10.2008 (Annexure P-1) whereby 20% cut in his monthly pension has been imposed in order to give effect to the orders dated 21/23.9.2004 and 31.5.2005 whereby his four and three annual increments respectively, were ordered to be withheld with cumulative effect. In addition, Rs.5866/- have been deducted on account of the last with-held increment. It appears that the impugned order has been passed on the premise that after the retirement of the petitioner, the above punishment C.W.P.No .10 of 2009 2 orders can be given effect only by imposing cut in his monthly pension. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, it appears to be that imposition of cut in the monthly pension by itself is a `punishment' under Rule 2.28 of the Punjab Civil Services Rules Volume-II and for imposition thereof, it was imperative upon the respondents to observe the principles of natural justice. The impugned order could not have been passed without issuing even a show-cause notice to the petitioner. For the reasons afore-stated, the writ petition is allowed; the impugned order dated 22.10.2008 (Annexure P-1) is set-aside, however, with liberty to the respondents to pass an appropriate order in accordance with law/Rules. Dasti. November 01, 2010 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE