#disciplinary enquiry

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a suspension order remains lawful even if the charge-sheet has not been served, provided the order clearly initiates a departmental enquiry and ensures expeditious disposal with subsistence allowance. This protects public servants from indefinite suspension while upholding administrative discipline, setting a critical precedent for departmental proceedings across state services.

Delhi High Court rules that termination of a Medical Sales Representative for non-compliance with a transfer order without a prior disciplinary enquiry violates principles of natural justice. The judgment reaffirms that field-level sales staff qualify as 'workmen' under the Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976, entitling them to procedural fairness before dismissal.

Uttarakhand High Court rules that suspending a government servant indefinitely without concluding disciplinary proceedings violates principles of natural justice under CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965. The court quashed a five-year-old suspension order, directed fresh posting, and mandated expeditious completion of the enquiry, reinforcing procedural fairness in service law.

Madhya Pradesh High Court sets aside a disciplinary order where authorities relied on prior witness statements without affording the petitioner an opportunity to cross-examine. The ruling reinforces that natural justice mandates a fresh enquiry with full procedural fairness, especially when prior evidence is reused against a public servant.