In Brief
Allahabad Bank dismissed a clerk, Krishan Pal Singh, in 1991 based on suspected involvement in a bank records fire incident. An Industrial Tribunal found the allegation unproven and awarded compensation. The High Court ordered reinstatement with full back wages. The Supreme Court partly allowed the Bank's appeal, modifying the relief to lump sum compensation of Rs. 15 lakhs instead of reinstatement. The Court held that reinstatement is not automatic when dismissal lacks legal proof, especially where the workman had only six years of service and had attained superannuation age during litigation."
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