D.G. Railway Protection Force & Ors vs K. Raghuram Babu

The Supreme Court held that Rule 153(8) of the Railway Protection Force Rules, 1987, which restricts the accused from being represented by a legal practitioner during departmental inquiries, is not unconstitutional. The Court emphasized that in domestic inquiries, the accused must conduct their own case unless a specific rule allows representation. The Court overturned the Andhra Pradesh High Court's Full Bench decision that deemed Rule 153(8) unreasonable, affirming that the right to cross-examine witnesses and address the Inquiry Officer lies with the charge-sheeted employee alone, not their friend or legal practitioner.