Section 54(2) in The Insurance Regulatory And Development Authority (Conditions Of Service Of Officers And Other Employees) Regulations, 2000
(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (b) of sub-regulation (1), if in a case it is proposed after considering the representation, if any, made by the officer and other employee under clause (a) of that sub-regulation, to withhold increments of pay and such withholding of increments is likely to affect adversely the amount of pension payable to the officer and other employee or to withhold increments of pay for a period exceeding three years or to withhold increments of pay with cumulative effect for any period, an inquiry shall be held in the manner laid down in sub-regulations (3) to (23) of regulation 52, before making any order imposing on the officer and other employee any such penalty.
