Disciplinary Action against Employees and Legal Principles Explained by Supreme Court in its Recent Judgment of May 2026

Disciplinary Action against Employees and Legal Principles Explained by Supreme Court in its Recent Judgment of May 2026

It is well settled that a member of the police force is expected to maintain the highest degree of integrity, honesty and discipline. Fraud at the threshold of entry into service strikes at the very root of public employment. The law is settled that the findings of fact recorded by the disciplinary authority are not to be interfered with by the Court as a matter of course, particularly while exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. In departmental proceedings, the standard of proof is one of preponderance of probabilities. Where the material on record reasonably supports the departmental case, the High Court would not reappreciate the evidence as if sitting in appeal.

Citation : State of Jharkhand v. Ranjan Kumar [2026] GCtR 363 (SC)