In Brief
Mangilal Kajodia, a teacher in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, was removed from service in 2008 after refusing to join his transfer posting to Kargil. Following proceedings before the Central Administrative Tribunal and a mercy petition, the Supreme Court found the removal harsh though the non-joining was willful. The Court directed reinstatement but upheld the government's decision to treat the absence period as 'dies non' (without accruing salary or seniority benefits). However, it modified the salary fixation to include notional increments, ensuring the petitioner did not revert to his 2008 salary level. The petition was partly allowed with directions for reinstatement and appropriate salary fixation within prescribed timeframes.
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