Articles of charge to be drawn up for public inquiry into the conduct of public servants

If, after preliminary inquiry or otherwise, the Government are of opinion that there are sufficient grounds for making a formal and public inquiry into the truth of any imputation of mis-conduct on the part of any public servant, the Government shall cause the substance of the imputations to be drawn up into distinct articles of charges and communicate the same to the public servant together with a statement of the allegations on which each of such charge is based and he shall be required to submit within a reasonable time which shall not be less than fifteen days to be specified in that behalf a written statement of his defence. If a written statement is received within the time specified , after considering the same, or if no written statement is received within the time, after expiry of the period specified, the Government may, if they consider necessary, order a formal and public inquiry to be made into the truth of the said imputation.