Overview
- The Supreme Court bench of Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, which on Wednesday dismissed the Centre’s special leave petition in Union of India v. Sukhwinder Singh, also levied ₹25,000 in costs.
- The Court left intact the Punjab and Haryana High Court order reinstating the CISF constable with continuity of service and 25% back wages.
- The High Court had found dismissal disproportionate because the 11-day absence fell within sanctioned medical leave and the woman tied to the second charge later said she had no grievance and married the constable’s brother.
- Justice Nagarathna said the Union is the largest litigant and urged government law officers to exercise discretion and decline routine appeals in such service matters.
- The bench rejected the Centre’s “no work, no pay” argument on back wages and condoned a filing delay, citing recent SCBA discussions to press for restraint in government litigation.