Not disclosing minor cases not a sufficient reason to dismiss someone from work: High Court

KOCHI: The High Court has said that concealing minor cases is not a sufficient reason to dismiss employees. Justice DK Singh has also ordered a review of the dismissal of an employee of the General Reserve Commanding Engineering Force. This is on the petition of S Harilal, a native of Sakthikulangara, who was a mechanical driver in the Engineering Force.
The commanding officer took action to dismiss the petitioner based on a police report that he had concealed two criminal cases that were pending when he joined the job. However, Harilal argued that the assault case against him was quashed by the High Court and the case of obstructing road traffic was settled by paying a fine. He pointed out that the cases were registered when he was a college student.
The court, after examining the previous orders of the Supreme Court, held that not disclosing minor cases was not a sufficient reason to dismiss someone from work. The cases filed against the petitioner have been settled. The High Court also directed the commanding officer to take a legal decision within a month after hearing the petitioner.