In Brief
A State Bank of India employee (respondent) was dismissed from service on 16 charges involving financial irregularities as Chief Manager of a branch. The High Court initially set aside the dismissal on procedural grounds and directed the Bank to hear him again. However, he ignored three separate notices to appear for hearing. The Supreme Court held that repeated opportunities for hearing need not be granted when an employee has already been provided one and has deliberately avoided it. The Court found the dismissal justified given the grave nature of the financial irregularities involved. The appeal was allowed and the dismissal was upheld.
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