The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Union government for being one of the "biggest litigants" and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 for challenging the directions of Punjab and Haryana High Court to reinstate a CISF trooper.
A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan dismissed the Centre's appeal challenging the high court judgment, as the top court felt that the dismissal of CISF trooper Sukhwinder was rightly held by the high court to be disproportionate.
The government had dismissed the employee over allegations of unauthorised leave and his involvement in the alleged elopement of a colleague's daughter who married Sukhwinder's brother.
A single-judge bench of the high court quashed the dismissal order and directed his reinstatement. The Centre's appeal against the single judge's order was dismissed by a division bench. Aggrieved by it, the government had filed the appeal.
On Wednesday, while refusing to entertain the Centre’s appeal, Justice Nagarathna asked the government what was the need to file appeals in such matters when the high court had taken a considered view and rightly directed Sukhwinder’s reinstatement. The top court added that contrary to the allegations, the CISF constable was on medical leave.
"This is a case for imposing cost with dismissal. We have been shouting. Pendency, pendency... Who is the biggest litigant? His dismissal is disproportionate. The high court granted him relief. Instead of giving the opinion that you will not go to the Supreme Court, you still proceed against him," Justice Nagarathna told the government law officer. "...We fail to understand why the Union of India and others have approached this court. We dismiss this SLP with a cost of ₹25,000."