In Brief
A police officer dismissed without a departmental inquiry challenged the dismissal, claiming violation of constitutional safeguards. The authorities had invoked Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution, which permits bypassing the standard inquiry procedure only when "not reasonably practicable." The Supreme Court clarified that this exception requires recorded, objective reasons and is subject to judicial review. The Court held that mere apprehension of witness intimidation, especially when the officer was in custody, does not sufficiently justify dispensing with inquiry procedures. The decision reaffirms that dismissal without inquiry is exceptional and requires compelling, documented circumstances verified by courts through judicial scrutiny.
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