F.C.I. vs SONE LAL

The Supreme Court held that the imposition of compulsory retirement on Sone Lal by the Senior Regional Manager of the Food Corporation of India was invalid as it was done by an authority lower in rank than the appointing authority, violating Regulation 56 of the Food Corporation of India (Staff) Regulations, 1971. The Court affirmed the High Court's decision that only the Zonal Manager, as the appointing authority, had the competence to impose such a penalty. Consequently, the appeal by the Food Corporation was dismissed, upholding the lower court's ruling.