10. The situation here seems to be different. The expression 'Disciplinary Authority' has a two-fold meaning. For the purpose of imposing penalties of compulsory retirement, removal or dismissal, it can only be the appointing authority, whereas in relation to the is sue of charge-sheets etc., under rules 1709 to 1712 and 1716 it can be any authority competent to impose any of the penalties specified in rule 1707. Rule 1707, as already noted, enumerates the various pe- nalties which can be imposed on a railway servant including those mentioned above. Rule 1705 read with Schedule II (for the purpose of this case) shows that the Head of the Department is competent to impose some of the penalties on class IV artisans and class III staff. If, therefore, the charge-sheet issued to the respondent in this case was in conformity with rule 1705 read with Schedule II, there was nothing irregular in the enquiry and it was open to the appointing authority, namely, the General Manager, to impose on the respondent the penalty of dismissal from service. In the absence of all the available material, we find ourselves unable to accept the judgment of the High Court in this case. We therefore set aside the judgment appealed from and remand the matter to the High Court for consideration of the point canvassed before us afresh, if necessary by giving the parties opportunity of adducing evidence by affidavit as ta whether the respondent belonged to class IV or class III staff or was an artisan and whether the charge-sheet was issued by the Head of the Department to which the respondent belongs.
