Food Corporation Of India, Hyderabad ... vs A. Prahalada Rao And Another

The Supreme Court interpreted Regulation 60 of the Food Corporation of India (Staff) Regulations, 1971, emphasizing that when an employee disputes charges leading to a minor penalty, an inquiry must be conducted to ascertain the facts and the extent of any loss caused. The Court upheld the High Court's decision that failure to follow proper inquiry procedures renders the imposition of penalties invalid. Consequently, the order imposing a penalty on the employee was set aside, reinforcing the necessity of due process in disciplinary actions under the Regulations.