Dharampal Arora vs Punjab State Electricity Board & Anr

The Supreme Court held that the appellant, an Assistant Revenue Accountant, was entitled to a fair inquiry process under Article 14 of the Constitution, which includes the right to be supplied with the inquiry report and a show cause notice before any punitive action is taken. The Court found that the failure to provide these procedural safeguards rendered the punishment of withholding increments invalid. Consequently, the Court set aside the orders of the lower courts and directed that the appellant be granted the withheld increments and full pay for the suspension period.