Criminal acquittal does not ipso facto invalidate disciplinary findings of misconduct for identical charges.

The petitioner, a Constable in the U.P. Police, was assigned to Sadar Lockup duty on December 14, 2011

While on duty, he allegedly consumed alcohol, leading to an accidental discharge of his service rifle that injured two civilians

A criminal case (Case Crime No. 318 of 2011) was registered under Section 307 IPC (later tried under Sections 286 and 338 IPC), and simultaneous departmental proceedings were initiated under Rule 14(1) of the U.P. Police Officers of the Subordinate Ranks (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1991

The petitioner failed to participate in the departmental inquiry despite multiple notices, leading to ex-parte proceedings

The inquiry report, which included a medical exam confirming intoxication, found him guilty and recommended removal from service

The Disciplinary Authority ordered his removal on August 19, 2013, a decision subsequently upheld by the Appellate and Revisional Authorities

Meanwhile, the petitioner was acquitted in the criminal trial after prosecution witnesses turned hostile

He challenged the removal, citing his acquittal and procedural irregularities in the inquiry report

Rule 14(1) and Appendix 1 of the U.P. Police Officers of the Subordinate Ranks (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1991

departmental and criminal proceedings operate in different spheres with distinct standards of proof—preponderance of probabilities versus proof beyond reasonable doubt

acquittal in a criminal case does not ipso facto vacate a disciplinary finding of misconduct unless the acquittal is "honorable" and based on the same evidence/witnesses who supported the charge in the inquiry

The court reasoned that criminal trials and disciplinary proceedings have different objectives: one to punish an offender and the other to maintain departmental discipline

Regarding the inquiry report, the court held that while Appendix 1 suggests recommendations for punishment should ideally be made separately for administrative caution, their inclusion in the report does not vitiate the findings if the guilt is established by cogent evidence

On the issue of acquittal, the court scrutinized the trial court's judgment and found it was not a "clean" or "honorable" acquittal; rather, the petitioner was given the "benefit of doubt" because injured witnesses turned hostile

Conversely, the departmental inquiry relied on a medical report and witness statements that conclusively proved intoxication while on duty—a standard of proof (preponderance of probabilities) sufficient for a finding of misconduct

The court emphasized that the standard of "negligence in handling a weapon" in service is distinct from criminal liability

The court concluded that there was no illegality in the ex-parte inquiry as the petitioner was afforded sufficient opportunity to defend himself but failed to do so

The orders passed by the Disciplinary, Appellate, and Revisional Authorities were upheld