(Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. M. SAHAI) 1. We have heard Mr. Vaibhav A. Vyas, learned counsel for the appellant – original petitioenr. This Letters Patent Appeal has been filed challenging order dated 22/06/2012 passed by the learned Single Judge in Special Civil Application No. 16352 of 2011 by which, the learned Single Judge has dismissed the writ petition filed by the petitioner – appellant herein by which the punishment imposed against the petitioner by order dated 29/08/2011 passed by respondent No. 1, wherein penalty of stoppage of one increment for one year without future effect, which had been imposed on the appellant – original petitioner, had been affirmed.
2. The learned Single Judge has found that according to the petitioner, he was pressurized by the members of the Municipality to sign the bid price which was reduced. While signing the reduced bid, the appellant has not mentioned that he was signing under threat or coercion. Subsequently, he has sent a communication to the Collector that he was made to sign under the threat. This cannot absolve the appellant – original petitioner of his responsibility as he was discharging his duties as Chief Officer (ClassII) for approving the bid for which no permission was required from the State Government and the appellant himself was the approving authority, as the auction were held for shops for a period of nine years.
3. For the aforesaid reasons, we do not find any illegality in the impugned order passed by the learned Single Judge. This Letters Patent Appeal is devoid of any merits and is accordingly dismissed along with Civil Application.
[ V. M. Sahai, J. ] [ G. B. Shah, J. ] hiren