In Brief
The State of Uttar Pradesh challenged a Tribunal and High Court decision that quashed a disciplinary order against a Junior Engineer for causing financial loss of Rs. 22,48,964.42. The lower courts applied the Doctrine of Equality, noting that other officers in the same incident were exonerated. The Supreme Court held that Doctrine of Equality cannot apply when charges against an individual officer are proved in enquiry. However, finding the enquiry vitiated due to non-supply of charge-sheet documents, the Court remanded the matter to the Disciplinary Authority to conduct a fresh enquiry from the vitiated stage while ensuring natural justice compliance."
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