Uttaranchal Road Transport Corpn.And ... vs Mansaram Nainwal

The Supreme Court held that the acquittal of the respondent in a criminal trial does not automatically invalidate departmental proceedings or warrant reinstatement, as established in Capt. M. Paul Anthony v. Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. (1999 (3) SCC 679). The Court found that the High Court erred in setting aside the termination order based solely on the criminal acquittal, emphasizing that departmental inquiries have distinct standards of proof. Consequently, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal, reinstating the termination of the respondent's service.