In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a constable from the Punjab Armed Forces for unauthorized absence of 37 days, holding that habitual absenteeism within a short 7-year tenure constitutes gross indiscipline warranting dismissal under Rule 16.2(1) of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934. The Court clarified that Rule 16.2(1) has two distinct parts: the first permits dismissal for gravest misconduct without mandatory consideration of service length, while the second applies to cumulative misconduct proving incorrigibility. The Court distinguished between using past misconduct as the effective reason for dismissal (requiring disclosure) versus merely reinforcing a decision already based on proved gravest misconduct (permissible without separate notice). The disciplinary authority properly followed statutory procedures and natural justice principles; hence the dismissal order remained valid.
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