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2025 Supreme(SC) 2095

SANJAY KAROL, VIPUL M. PANCHOLI
Union Of India – Appellant
Versus
Pranab Kumar Nath – Respondent


Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioner(s): Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee, A.S.G. Mr. Alabhya Dhamija, Adv. Mr. V V V Pattabhi Ram, Adv. Ms. Merusagar Samantaray, Adv. Mr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, AOR Ms. Pooja Kumari, Adv.
For the Respondent(s): Mr. Salvador Santosh Rebello, AOR Mr. Anubahb Atreya, Adv. Mr. Raghav Sharma, Adv. Mr. Jaskirat Pal Singh, Adv. Ms. Moulishree Pathak, Adv. Mr. Ujjawal Agrawal, Adv. Mr. Utsav Tarsolia, Adv.

Judgement Key Points

Certainly. Here are the key legal points from the provided document:

  1. The dismissal of an employee for entering into a second marriage while the first spouse is still alive is considered an extreme penalty. Lesser penalties should be considered, especially when personal circumstances and proportionality are taken into account (!) (!) .

  2. Disciplinary proceedings in government employment are primarily subject to procedural adherence and jurisdictional limits. Judicial review is confined to ensuring compliance with natural justice and legality, rather than reappraising evidence or substituting findings (!) (!) .

  3. The relevant rules under the CISF Rules, 2001, specifically Rule 18(b), prohibit marriage with a person having a spouse living. These rules are service conditions aimed at maintaining discipline and integrity, and are not moral censure. They are enforceable unless they are arbitrary, disproportionate, or violate constitutional protections (!) (!) .

  4. The courts emphasize that under Article 226 jurisdiction, their role is to review procedural fairness and legality of disciplinary actions, not to act as appellate courts re-evaluating evidence or substituting their own judgment on factual findings (!) (!) .

  5. The punishment imposed must be proportionate to the misconduct. Disproportionate punishment, especially one that shocks the conscience or causes undue hardship, can be subject to judicial review. However, unless the punishment is shockingly disproportionate, courts are generally reluctant to interfere (!) (!) .

  6. The scope of judicial review is limited to checking for procedural irregularities, violations of natural justice, or arbitrariness. Courts do not reappreciate evidence or re-examine factual conclusions unless they are perverse or unsupported by evidence (!) (!) .

  7. The disciplinary authority is the sole judge of facts, and courts should not interfere unless there is a clear violation of principles of natural justice or statutory procedures. Proper conduct of inquiry and adherence to rules are essential prerequisites for upholding disciplinary decisions (!) (!) .

  8. In cases involving penal provisions or rules with penal consequences, strict interpretation is required. Ambiguities should be resolved in favor of the person subject to discipline, and the rules should be applied strictly and in accordance with their clear language (!) .

  9. The courts have reiterated that they should not interfere with disciplinary decisions unless there is a procedural violation, arbitrariness, or the punishment is manifestly disproportionate. The decision should be based on evidence and proper procedure, and courts should respect the disciplinary authority’s findings unless these principles are violated (!) (!) .

  10. Overall, the courts uphold the principle that disciplinary actions must be proportionate, based on proper procedures, and free from arbitrariness. Judicial review is confined to ensuring fairness and legality, not re-evaluation of factual findings or evidence (!) (!) .

Please let me know if you need further analysis or assistance with this case.


Table of Content
1. dismissal from service for remarriage. (Para 2 , 3)
2. judicial perspective on punishment intensity. (Para 4 , 5)
3. cisf rules on marital conduct. (Para 7)
4. limitations of high court's review powers. (Para 8 , 9)
5. outcome: appeal allowed. (Para 10)

ORDER :

2. The Respondent-Pranab Kumar Nath was employed with the Central Industrial Security Force1[Hereinafter, referred to as ‘CISF’] and had been dismissed from service in terms of order dated 1st July 2017 passed by the Senior Commandant, CISF2[Hereinafter, referred to as ‘Disciplinary Authority’] consequent to disciplinary proceedings drawn against him, for marrying once more in the subsistence of his first marriage. Such dismissal was confirmed by the Appellate3[Deputy Inspector General, CISF vide Order dated 20th September 2017] and Revisional4[Inspector General, CISF vide Order dated 26th July 2018] Authorities. The Learned Single Judge5[WP No. 8078 of 2019 vide Order dated 21st July 2022] and the Division Bench6[Impugned judgment in WA No. 357 of 2022 by judgment dated 18th January 2023] were of the view that dismissal from service is much too harsh a penalty, and as such, for their own reasons, each directed

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