State Of Haryana And Ors vs Ranbir Singh

The Supreme Court held that the dismissal of a police constable was null and void due to non-compliance with Rule 16.38 of the Punjab Police Rules, which mandates prior concurrence from the District Magistrate when a departmental inquiry is conducted alongside a pending judicial prosecution. The Court affirmed the Trial Court's decision to reinstate the respondent without back wages, emphasizing the respondent's admissions regarding misconduct while on duty. The Court reversed the decisions of the First Appellate Court and the High Court that had granted back wages, holding that the Trial Court's ruling was correct and should not have been interfered with.