In Brief
Tej Pal Singh, a Class IV Senior Rakshak employed by Indian Railways since 1957, was removed from service in 1977 by an Assistant Security Officer following a departmental enquiry. The Supreme Court held that since Singh's original appointment letter was unavailable, the General Manager must be presumed the appointing authority under Railway Board guidelines. As removal authority must be equal or senior to appointing authority, the Assistant Security Officer—a junior-ranked officer—lacked power to effect the removal. The appeal was allowed and ₹5 lakhs awarded to Singh's widow for full settlement, considering the 37-year delay and Singh's death in 2014."
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