In Brief
A police constable was dismissed from service in 1989 after departmental proceedings found him guilty of extorting money, drunkenness, and firing a weapon that injured his family members. Years later, he was acquitted in criminal court on the same charges (on "benefit of doubt") and sought reinstatement. The High Court allowed his reinstatement, relying on an earlier Supreme Court decision. The Supreme Court reversed this, holding that criminal acquittal does not automatically entitle dismissal of a public servant reinstatement. Departmental and criminal proceedings operate at different standards of proof; the former requires only preponderance of probabilities, while the latter requires proof beyond reasonable doubt. The exception (permitting reinstatement on acquittal) applies only in exceptional circumstances—not here.
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