THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V. RAMULU WRIT PETITION No. 3777 of 2005 O R D E R: This Writ Petition is directed against the Award dated 19.06.2003 made in I.D.No. 23 of 2003 on the file of the Industrial Tribunal-cum- Labour Court, Godavarkhani, Karimnagar District. The petitioner is the workman and Respondent No.2 is the Management. It appears, the petitioner was appointed as a Conductor in the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, with effect from 31.12.1982. When he was conducting the bus bearing No. 1138 on the route Rekonda to Huzurabad on 23.01.1994, a check was exercised at Stage No. 10/9 and certain cash and ticket irregularities were found. On the basis of the charge memo issued by the TTIs, the following charges were framed: 1) For having violated the Rule “Issue an start”. 2) For having collected an amount of Rs.1.50 ps. each from two lady passengers at their boarding place who boarded the bus after Mandapour and alighting at Bommanapalli, ex-stages 10/9 to 9, but on seeking the TTIs handed over the tickets bearing Nos. 630/879789 and 790 of Rs.1.50 ps. denomination duly punching on ‘o’ only. 3) For having already closed the ticket tray numbers of all denominations in the S.R. against stage No. 9 without issuing the above two tickets. After conducting domestic enquiry and completing all the formalities, the petitioner was removed from service with effect from 24.03.1994. It appears, the appeal filed by the petitioner before the Divisional Manager, APSRTC, Karimnagar was also dismissed on 15.07.1994. Thereafter, the petitioner filed an appeal in 2002,which was disposed of on 17.01.2002 rejecting his case. Aggrieved thereby, he raised a dispute under Section 2-A(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 before the Industrial Tribunal-cum- Labour Court, Godavarikhani. The Tribunal, upon consideration of the entire material available on record, found that the entire misconduct was only delay of two seconds in issuing the tickets, and set aside the order of removal with a direction to the management to reinstate the petitioner into service with continuity of service, but without any back wages and attendant benefits during the period of suspension. Further, it was directed that the punishment of stoppage of two increments with cumulative effect shall be imposed on the petitioner, making it clear that the period of suspension shall not be counted for any purpose. Aggrieved thereby, the present Writ Petition has been filed by the workman. Insofar as the finding with regard to denial of back wages and the attendant benefits and imposition of stoppage of two increments with cumulative effect are concerned, there is no necessity to go into all the details. As could be seen from the record, the charges are serious in nature and they were proved in full. The Industrial Tribunal, in its wisdom, while exercising its powers under Section 11-A of the 1947 Act, found that the punishment of removal from service is disproportionate to that of the proven misconduct and thus, directed reinstatement of the petitioner with continuity of service, but without back wages and the attendant benefits and further imposed the punishment of stoppage of two increments with cumulative effect. In the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that the Tribunal, after appreciation of the evidence and material available on record, has passed the Award properly and it cannot be said to be either arbitrary or illegal. The Writ Petition is devoid of merit and it is accordingly dismissed. No costs. -------------------- (C. V. RAMULU, J) 10th June 2010 ksld