In Brief
An employee of Indian Oil Corporation was dismissed for submitting a forged SSLC certificate at the time of employment. The High Court set aside the dismissal and ordered reinstatement without back wages. The Supreme Court held that the High Court erred in interfering with the dismissal order. The Court ruled that producing a forged certificate is grave misconduct breaching employer trust, and that judicial review under Article 226 can only challenge punishment if shockingly disproportionate or procedurally irregular. The employee's arguments—that he admitted guilt on assurance of leniency, was acquitted in criminal court, and the certificate was immaterial—were all irrelevant. The Court restored the dismissal order and allowed the appeal.
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