South Bengal State Transport Corpn vs Swapan Kumar Mitra And Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the validity of the removal of Shri Sapan Kumar Mitra from service by the South Bengal State Transport Corporation following a bus accident that resulted in multiple fatalities. The Court held that the non-supply of crucial documents relied upon in the departmental inquiry violated the principles of natural justice, rendering the removal order invalid. Furthermore, the Court clarified that an acquittal in a criminal case does not preclude disciplinary action based on separate departmental proceedings, thus upholding the High Court's decision to set aside the removal order.