Canara Bank & Ors vs Swapan Kumar Pani & Anr

The Supreme Court addressed the disciplinary proceedings against Shri Swapan Kumar Pani under the Canara Bank Officer Employees' (Discipline & Appeal) Regulations, 1976, specifically citing Regulation 3(1) and Regulation 24. The Court held that the disciplinary authority's decision to exonerate the first respondent was justified, as the charges of misconduct related to the unauthorized removal of bearer bonds were not substantiated. The Court emphasized the importance of due process in departmental inquiries and upheld the principle that an employee cannot be punished without clear evidence of misconduct.