Life Insurance Corporation Of India vs Om Parkash 2024 INSC 870 - Service Law - Termination

Service Law - High Court granted relief to employee on the ground that the termination order was passed without affording a reasonable opportunity or conducting an inquiry into the charge of absence from duty- Allowing appeal filed by LIC, SC observed: The Court overlooked that it was a case of the respondent abandoning his services without informing his employer about his whereabouts. Subsequently, it came to light that he joined the FCI on 09.05.1997. Such conduct of the respondent could not have been condoned by the employer and therefore, in our assessment, treating the respondent to have abandoned his service and taking appropriate action against him, in terms of the LIC Staff Regulation, cannot be faulted. It is also necessary for us to say that as the delinquent was guilty of suppression of the fact of his employment with the FCI, he was disentitled to equitable relief from the High Court in exercise of powers under Article 226 of the Constitution.