D.H.B.V.N.L Vidyut Nagar, Hisar & Ors vs Yashvir Singh Gulia

The Supreme Court addressed the obligation of the Disciplinary Authority under Regulation 7 of the Haryana State Electricity Board Employees (Punishment & Appeal) Regulations, 1990, determining that a full-fledged departmental inquiry is mandatory when a charge-sheet for a major penalty is issued, even if a minor penalty is ultimately imposed. The Court upheld the lower courts' decisions that the imposition of a minor penalty without a proper inquiry was illegal, thereby affirming the necessity of adhering to procedural requirements outlined in the Regulations. The appeal by the Board was dismissed, reinforcing the legal principle that due process must be followed in disciplinary proceedings.