#service discipline

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that only the designated District Horticulture Officer, as per G.O.Ms. No. 630 of 2019, may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a Village Horticulture Assistant. Any show-cause notice issued by an unauthorized official - such as a Mandal Parishad Development Officer - is void ab initio, reinforcing that procedural legitimacy in service law hinges on strict adherence to delegated authority, not just notice format.

Madhya Pradesh High Court rules that dismissal from service cannot be justified solely on a one-day unauthorized absence or pending criminal allegations without proof of violation of police regulations. The judgment reinforces the principle of proportionality in disciplinary actions, protecting employees from arbitrary termination.

The Bombay High Court ruled that an air traffic controller's attempt to misappropriate government property, followed by voluntary restitution, warrants a proportional penalty of demotion rather than dismissal. This sets a critical precedent for disciplinary authorities to weigh intent, conduct, and remedial action when imposing penalties on public employees, reinforcing that absence of actual loss must mitigate punishment.