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of <h1>Termination Upheld for Misconduct; Acquittal Doesn't Impact Departmental Actions; Judicial Review Respects Admin Decisions.</h1> <h3>V. Ramana Versus A.P.S.R.T.C. and Ors.</h3> The SC upheld the termination of the appellant, a conductor, by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation for gross misconduct related to fare ... - Issues Involved1. Legality of the termination order in departmental proceedings.2. Effect of acquittal in the criminal case on departmental proceedings.3. Consideration of the quantum of punishment under Section 11A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.4. Judicial review of administrative decisions and the principle of proportionality.Detailed Analysis1. Legality of the Termination Order in Departmental ProceedingsThe appellant, a Conductor at the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, faced charges of not issuing tickets at the boarding point, failing to collect fare, and not maintaining records properly. The Enquiry Officer found him guilty, and a termination order was issued. The High Court held that the termination was justified, and the Supreme Court affirmed this decision, emphasizing the fiduciary responsibility of conductors and the gross misconduct involved in not collecting the correct fare.2. Effect of Acquittal in the Criminal Case on Departmental ProceedingsThe High Court determined that the acquittal in the criminal case had no bearing on the departmental proceedings. The Supreme Court supported this view, noting that the small amount of discrepancy was inconsequential. The Court cited Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation v. B.S. Hullikatti, which held that misconduct involving fare collection justified removal from service, regardless of the criminal case outcome.3. Consideration of the Quantum of Punishment under Section 11A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947The appellant argued that the High Court should have applied Section 11A of the Industrial Disputes Act to consider the quantum of punishment, taking into account the minor lapses and small amount involved. However, the Supreme Court referenced precedents such as Regional Manager, RSRTC v. Ghanshyam Sharma and Regional Manager, U.P.S.R.T.C. Etawha v. Hoti Lal, which upheld strict penalties for conductors who caused financial losses to corporations through dishonesty or gross negligence.4. Judicial Review of Administrative Decisions and the Principle of ProportionalityThe Supreme Court discussed the scope of judicial review in administrative decisions, referring to the Wednesbury principles and the principle of proportionality. The Court reiterated that interference with the quantum of punishment is not routine and should be limited to cases where the decision is illogical, procedurally improper, or shocks the conscience of the Court. The Court cited Om Kumar v. Union of India and B.C. Chaturvedi v. Union of India, emphasizing that courts should not substitute their judgment for that of the administrative authority unless the punishment is shockingly disproportionate.The Court concluded that the High Court's judgment did not suffer from any infirmity and dismissed the appeal without any order as to costs. The principles of judicial review and proportionality were upheld, affirming the disciplinary authority's decision in the appellant's case.
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