Union of India v. Indraj; 2025 INSC 1313 - Disciplinary Proceedings
Disciplinary Proceedings - The Supreme Court upheld the respondent’s removal of Post Office Employee for misappropriating funds, setting aside the High Court’s reinstatement - It observed: Relationship of a customer with a banker is of mutual trust. Any account holder will be satisfied once an entry is made in his passbook regarding deposit of any amount by him in the post office where he had maintained the account. An account holder may not be privy to the manner in which the accounts are maintained by the post office and also whether the corresponding entries were made or not in the books of accounts maintained there. The respondent tried to explain the embezzlement by stating that on account of ignorance of the Rules, the passbooks of the account holders were stamped. Such an explanation cannot be accepted being farfetched. He had been in service for about 12 years. Ignorance of rules of the procedure with so much experience cannot be accepted. There was no defect or error pointed out in the course of inquiry. (Para 11)
Case Info
; Coram: Rajesh Bindal, J.; Manmohan, J.; Judgment date: November 13, 2025
Key details
- Case name: Union of India and Ors. v. Indraj.
- Neutral citation: 2025 INSC 1313.
- Coram: Rajesh Bindal, J.; Manmohan, J.
- Judgment date: November 13, 2025.
- Disposition: Appeal allowed; High Court order set aside; penalty of removal upheld.
Statutes / Rules referred
- Gramin Dak Sevak (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011 — specifically Rule 21 (integrity and devotion to duty).
- Branch Post Office Manual, 6th Edition — Rule 131.
