Indiscipline in Uniform – Absenteeism – Zero tolerance of SC
Judgment dated 29.8.2025 of the Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal No.312 of 2012 of the State of Punjab and others Vs. Ex.C.Satpal Singh
Discipline over Leniency – SC upholds dismissal of Constable for repeated absence
Indiscipline in Uniform – SC reinforces zero tolerance for absenteeism in Police Force
The respondent – Constable in the Commando Force of Punjab Police – was imposed penalties for absence from duty on earlier occasions.
On fourth occasion, the respondent applied for four days leave but was granted one day leave. However, he joined the duty after 37 days. In the departmental inquiry, the appellant was dismissed from service for the unauthorized absence. However, reference to the previous misconduct was made.
HELD that in the present the previous misconduct of the respondent was not the basis for imposing the punishment of dismissal and reference to the same was only mentioned, apart from indiscipline for which punishment was imposed. Thus, the consideration of the past misconduct was not the effective reason for dismissing him from the service.
The absence of the respondent – Constable in the Commando Force of Punjab Police – on various occasions in a short tenure of seven years service is a gross discipline and there is no illegality in his dismissal.
