UTTARANCHAL TRANSPORT CORPN. vs SANJAY KUMAR NAUTIYAL

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Labour Court, which reinstated the respondent, Sanjay Kumar Nautiyal, with 50% back wages and a minor penalty for misconduct involving misappropriation of public money under the Service Rules. The Court found that while the respondent's actions were improper, the punishment imposed was disproportionate to the misconduct. The judgment clarified the standards for assessing misconduct in service matters, emphasizing the need for proportionality in penalties under the relevant service regulations.