In Brief
Naresh Chandra Bhardwaj, a Bank of India officer, was punished with removal from service for involvement in sanctioning and recommending loans to a fraudster, causing estimated losses of Rs.70.32 lakh. Two co-officers involved in similar misconduct received compulsory retirement instead. The Supreme Court held that when two punishment options (removal from service versus compulsory retirement) result in identical financial benefits to the employee and pose no financial burden on the Bank, the court may order modification based on the doctrine of equality among co-delinquents. The appeal was allowed, modifying the punishment to compulsory retirement.
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