PUNJAB STATE POWER CORPN. LTD. vs HARI KISHAN VERMA

The Supreme Court addressed the legality of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd.'s order for the compulsory retirement of an employee at the age of 55 under the Punjab State Electricity Board Service (Premature Retirement) Regulation 1982. The Court held that the order was stigmatic and punitive due to the employee's prior disciplinary actions and the nature of the retirement order, which was found to entail penal consequences. Consequently, the Court upheld the High Court's decision to quash the retirement order, emphasizing the need for a non-stigmatic approach in such cases.