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Heard on admission.

This intra Court appeal has been preferred by the Union of India challenging the impugned Judgment and order dated 12/08/2015 passed by the learned Single Judge of this High Court whereby he has allowed respondent's WP(C) No. 5399/2008.

2. Respondent - Gopal Chandra Kalita, a Constable in the Central Industrial Security Force - was charged with the allegation that when he was discharging his duties as a Constable in the Central Industrial Security Force, while his Unit was deployed in the Oil and Natural Gas Commission at Nazira, he was detailed to shift duty of Cable PTL at the D.S.A.B Rig from 1700-2100 hours on 17/12/2005 and from 0500-0900 hours on 18/12/2005. After his 2nd shift duty was over at 9 AM on 18/12/2005, the theft of 30 meter length power cable was detected from the patrolling area and the lock in the Lube Oil Store was also found broken for attempted theft. Subsequently, a disciplinary proceeding was initiated against him, which was drawn up on 30/12/2005 under Rule 36 of the Central Industrial Security Force Rules, 2001. The respondent was charged with gross misconduct, indiscipline, negligence and dereliction of duty.

3. The respondent submitted his reply denying the charge levelled against him and contended that the cables were kept under cover and therefore, the same got undetected during his shift duty although they could have been stolen only at night and not during his 2nd shift duty from 0500 hours to 0900 on 18/12/2005. As regards the first shift duty until 9 PM on 17/12/2005, the respondent had stated that since the "OK" report was given by the Post Commander, the possibility of the theft in the first shift duty was wholly ruled out.