In Brief
A Junior Engineer in Uttar Pradesh faced disciplinary action for causing a government loss of Rs. 22.48 lakhs. A Tribunal and High Court quashed his punishment, citing the Doctrine of Equality because other officers involved were exonerated. The Supreme Court held that the Doctrine of Equality cannot be applied when charges are individually proved against an officer; each officer's role must be assessed separately. However, as the enquiry breached natural justice by not supplying relevant documents, the Court remanded the matter to the Disciplinary Authority to conduct a fresh enquiry from the vitiated stage, rather than outright quashing the punishment."
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