Disciplinary Proceedings – Confessional Statement

The scope of interference in disciplinary proceedings by the Courts is to a limited extent especially when the domestic enquiry has been conducted and due opportunity has been given to the delinquent official. Certainly the court can look into the points whether the enquiry was conducted in fair manner and priniciples of natural justice were followed, but in the given set of facts, the petitioner had himself made a confessional statement that he did not want to continue with the enquiry proceedings and admitted his guilt. Courts are not supposed to perform the duties of appellate authority to scan the evidence, but the role of courts is limited to the extent that the Court is to see whether domestic enquiry was conducted in a fair manner and due opportunity was given to the delinquent official. Gurjant Singh v. Industrial Tribunal, Patiala, 2019 (160) FLR 209.