Section 8(5) in The Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Service (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1988
(5)(a)On receipt of the written statement of defence the punishing authority may itself inquire into such of the articles of charge as are not admitted or ; if it considers it necessary so to do, appoint under sub-rule (2) an inquiring authority for the purpose, and where all the articles of charge have been admitted by the employee in his written statement of defence, the punishing authority shall record its findings on each charge after taking such evidence as it may think fit and shall act in the manner laid down in Rule 9.(b)If no written statement of defence is submitted by an employee, the punishing authority may itself inquire into the articles of charges or may, if it considers it necessary to do so, appoint under sub-rule (2) inquiring authority for the purpose.(c)Where the punishing authority itself inquiries into any article of charge or appoints as inquiring authority for holding an inquiry into such charge, it may, by an order appoint an employee or a legal practitioner, to be known as the 'Presenting Officer' to present on its behalf the case in support of the articles of charge.
