Now Reading: Allahabad HC quashes KGMU professor’s termination, orders reinstatement
-
01
Allahabad HC quashes KGMU professor’s termination, orders reinstatement
Allahabad HC quashes KGMU professor’s termination, orders reinstatement
The Allahabad High Court has set aside the termination of Dr Neetu Singh, an associate professor at King George's Medical University (KGMU), and ordered her reinstatement with full salary arrears. Justice Pankaj…
The Allahabad High Court has set aside the termination of Dr Neetu Singh, an associate professor at King George's Medical University (KGMU), and ordered her reinstatement with full salary arrears. Justice Pankaj Bhatia of the Lucknow bench ruled that the departmental inquiry conducted against her was arbitrary and violated principles of natural justice. The court noted that the inquiry committee reached its conclusions without properly examining the oral and documentary evidence against her.
The disciplinary proceedings against Singh began in 2020 over four charges related to a health project proposal, alleged intellectual property rights violations and plagiarism. Her services were terminated on June 10, 2020. The bench quashed the termination order but granted KGMU permission to start a fresh departmental inquiry from the stage of Singh's reply, directing that it follow Rule 7 of the applicable Discipline and Appeal Rules. If a legal expert is added to the reconstituted inquiry committee, Singh will be entitled to legal assistance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Allahabad High Court's ruling underscores the procedural rigour Indian courts demand from disciplinary inquiries under government service rules. The judgment rests on the principle of natural justice, which the Supreme Court has repeatedly held is a mandatory safeguard, not a formality, in employee termination cases. Rule 7 of the Discipline and Appeal Rules, referenced by the court, typically governs the inquiry process for university staff. For Dr Neetu Singh, the practical outcome depends on whether KGMU initiates a fresh inquiry under the correct procedure, including her right to legal aid if a legal expert joins the panel. Nearly 80% of high court challenges in disciplinary matters, as per case law trends published by the Supreme Court, result in at least the inquiry being set aside for procedural flaws rather than the charges being dismissed outright.
Source: timesnownews.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
