Director thereafter, sent his comments through letter No. 2488 dated 31.10.1991. Thereafter, it has been stated in the counter affidavit, that in course of disposal of the departmental proceeding it was felt necessary by the Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Managing Director, to know as to what action has been taken against the staff who had worked under the petitioner and accordingly, a letter was issued bearing No. 1398 dated 2.4.1992 seeking comments of the Project Director, Champaran Forest Circle, Bettiah, on the point. It took more than five years and after several reminders, it is stated, the Divisional Manager, Project Division, Bettiah vide its letter no. 728 dated 17.6.1997 sent the required comments. Thereafter, the petitioner’s comment was sought on the comments already submitted by the Project Director. From the impugned orders, it appears that the disciplinary authority considered the report and the report submitted by the Project Director, upon an enquiry which was certainly held beyond the departmental enquiry upon which the Inquiry Officer had submitted his report. This procedure is unknown in a departmental proceeding. The disciplinary authority could not have taken
