In Brief
A bus conductor employed by U.P. State Road Transport Corporation was found to have collected fares from 78 passengers without issuing tickets—constituting criminal breach of trust. After a fair inquiry, he was terminated. The Labour Court reinstated him without back wages, deeming the punishment too severe. The High Court upheld this. The Supreme Court allowed the Corporation's appeal, holding that courts should not lightly modify punishment for serious misconduct by employees in positions of trust. Termination was justified and the Labour Court erred in interfering without reasoned analysis of proportionality.
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