D.H.B.V.N.L VIDYUT NAGAR, HISAR vs YASHVIR SINGH GULIA

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of whether a full departmental inquiry is mandatory when a charge-sheet for a major penalty is issued under Regulation 7 of the Haryana State Electricity Board Employees (Punishment & Appeal) Regulations, 1990, but only a minor penalty is imposed. The Court held that the disciplinary authority must conduct a full inquiry if a major penalty charge-sheet is issued, and failure to do so renders the imposition of a minor penalty illegal. Consequently, the Court upheld the lower court's decision that the Board's action was unlawful, affirming the need for adherence to procedural requirements under the Regulations.