Reduction in penalty

Civil servants were dismissed from service on the charges of inefficiency and negligence but Service Tribunal converted the penalty from dismissal into reduction in pay scale

Validity

Definition of word "misconduct" in Punjab Removal from Service (Special Powers) Ordinance, 2000, was almost the same which had been assigned to it in Punjab Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1999

Charges of guilty of misconduct or corruption were always considered at higher pedestal than the charge of inefficiency

Competent authority had jurisdiction to award any of the punishments mentioned in law to the Government employee but for the purpose of safe administration of justice such punishment should be awarded which commensurate with the magnitude of the guilt otherwise the law dealing with the subject would lose its efficacy

Civil servants were not guilty of the charge of misconduct or corruption, therefore, extreme penalty of removal from service for the charge of inefficiency or negligence was on higher side

Service Tribunal had rightly reduced the quantum of punishment awarded to the civil servants by the competent authority

Supreme Court declined to interfere with the judgment passed by Service Tribunal

Leave to appeal was refused.