YASH KATARIA vs UOI AND ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI W.P.(C) 14115/2009 YASH KATARIA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Aman Varma and Ms. Riya Wasade, Advs. versus UOI AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. B.S. Rana and Mr. Deepanshu Singha, Advs. for R-2 Mr. Kamal Mehta, Adv. for R-3 Ms. Arti Bansal, SPC with Ms. Shruti Goel, Adv. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA JUDGMENT (ORAL) % 28.08.2025 C.HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. The petitioner was working as a Development Officer in the National Insurance Company Ltd for nearly 23 years when, on 19 August 2005, he was issued a memorandum proposing to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him on the ground of having remained absent from duty without authorisation. 2. Disciplinary proceedings followed, resulting in an order dated 11 May 2006, by the competent Disciplinary Authority, penalising the petitioner with a punishment of compulsory retirement. 3. Though the enquiry report during these proceedings was in the petitioner’s favour, the disciplinary authority disagreed with the report, issued a disagreement note and, thereafter, proceeded to pass the aforenoted punishment order dated 11 May 2006. 4. An appeal pr