Summary
The Supreme Court restored dismissal of a police constable for proved drunkenness and misbehaviour with the public. Medical evidence established intoxication, and the misconduct was serious in light of his police responsibilities. The High Court Division Bench lacked justification for substituting compulsory retirement on the basis of claimed satisfactory past service. The Single Judge’s dismissal of the constable’s writ petition was restored.
Issues
- Whether the High Court was justified in replacing dismissal with compulsory retirement.
Held
- The charge involved serious misconduct by a police officer, with intoxication established by medical evidence. Those circumstances justified the disciplinary dismissal and supplied no basis for the Division Bench’s interference. (¶ 7)
- The Single Judge’s rejection of the challenge suffered no factual or legal error and was restored. (¶ 7–8)
Result
State appeal allowed; Division Bench judgment set aside and Single Judge’s dismissal of the writ petition maintained, restoring the disciplinary dismissal. No costs.