RAVINDER CHOPRA vs LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR & ORS

Judgment text excerpt

$~P-2 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Decided on 28.05.2025 + W.P.(C) 13008/2019 RAVINDER CHOPRA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sumit Kumar, Advocate. versus LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR & ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Soumyajit Pani, Mr. Aishwary Bajpai, Advocates. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN JUDGMENT 1. By way of this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioner assails an order of the Disciplinary Authority dated 07.12.2017, Appellate Authority dated 11.07.2018, and Reviewing Authority dated 03.08.2019, passed in disciplinary proceedings against him. 2. By the order of the Disciplinary Authority, a punishment of removal from service was imposed upon him, which was modified by the Appellate Authority to reduction in pay by two stages. The Reviewing Authority upheld the order of the Appellate Authority. 3. By order dated 10.12.2019 in this petition, notice was issued, limited to the question of proportionality of the punishment imposed upon Signature Not Verified Signed By:UMANG W.P.(C) 13008/2019 Page 1 of 13 KHANNA Signing Date:29.05.2025 15:16:47 the petitioner. 4. The disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner concerned an incident of 12.06.2016. The petitioner, who was the Secretary of an Employees’ Association of the respondent – Corporation, was present at a meeting with the Manager (Personnel and Industrial Relations) of the respondent [hereinafter, “the Manager”], in which he allegedly raised his voice, used aggressive and rude gestures, and was guilty of indiscipline and insubordination. 5. Prior to issuance of the charge sheet, a communication dated 12.06.2017 was addressed to the petitioner, by the Manager, in which it was stated that the petitioner had behaved aggress