K. Prabhakara Rao vs Union Of India (Uoi) And Ors. on 11 April, 2001
Being aggrieved, the employee (Railway
Administration) had filed Writ Petition before the Hon'ble
High Court of Madhya Pradesh. While answering whether
any inquiry can be dispensed with where the penalty
proposed is recovery of pecuniary loss caused by
negligence or breach of orders categorized as a 'Minor
Penalty' and whether the Disciplinary Authority was
justified in imposing the penalty of recovery without
inquiry, the Hon'ble High Court after referring the law
laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in O.K. Bhardwaj
vs. Union of India, 2001 (9) SCC 180 and judgment
passed in Food Corporation of India vs. A. Prahalada
Rao, 2001 (1) SCC 165,held as under:-