Kulwant Singh Gill vs State Of Punjab on 13 September, 1990
If the penalty of stoppage of one increment with cumulative
effect is major penalty, then respondents were under legal
obligation to hold the enquiry before imposing this
punishment. The issue, in my view, is no more res integra.
The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Kulwant Singh
Gill Vs. State of Punjab, 1991(2) SCT 30 (SC) 9 has held
that stoppage of two increments with cumulative effect falls
within the meaning of 5(v) of the Punishment and Appeals
Rules and would amount to major penalty and, thus, regular
enquiry would be a must to impose this penalty. Without
enquiry, no punishment of stoppage of increment with
cumulative effect, as such, could be ordered. Rules 8 and 9 of
the Rules clearly envisages the procedure to conduct an
enquiry into the misconduct before ordering stoppage of
increment with cumulative effect."