Depot Manager, A.P.S.R.T.C vs Raghuda Siva Sankar Prasad

The Supreme Court held that the punishment of removal from service under the APSRTC Employees Conduct Regulations, 1963, was disproportionate to the misconduct of theft committed by the respondent, who had 12 years of unblemished service. The Court emphasized the need for proportionality in punishment as per Section 11-A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and upheld the High Court's decision to set aside the removal order, directing reinstatement with a modified penalty. The Court concluded that while the charges were proved, the severity of the punishment was not justified.