THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & OTHERS vs AJODHYA PRASAD

The Supreme Court held that the departmental trial against a police officer for bribery under Section 7 of the Police Act, 1861, was valid despite prior magisterial enquiry. The Court ruled that the subject matter of both proceedings was substantially the same, and the interregnum between the enquiry and trial did not invalidate the dismissal. The provisions of paragraph 486 of the U.P. Police Regulations were deemed directory, thus not affecting the validity of the dismissal even if not strictly followed.