Union Of India And Ors vs Jaipal Singh

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's order for re-instatement of the respondent with full back wages after his acquittal in a criminal case under Section 302 IPC. The Court distinguished the case from Ranchhodji Chaturji Thakore v. Superintendent Engineer, Gujarat Electricity Board, where back wages were denied due to departmental non-involvement in the criminal case. The Court emphasized that an employee acquitted of a criminal charge should not be penalized by the department for the period of conviction, thus reinforcing the principle that acquittal necessitates re-instatement and entitlement to back wages.