STATE OF PUNJAB vs CHARANJIT SINGH

The Supreme Court held that the disciplinary authority's decision to treat the respondent's absence as leave without pay does not condone the misconduct. The Court clarified that the mere classification of absence does not negate the grounds for disciplinary action, referencing Section 14 of the Punjab Police Act. The Court overturned the lower courts' decisions, emphasizing that misconduct remains actionable despite the treatment of absence, thus reinstating the dismissal of the respondent.