THE FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA AND 3 ORS vs JAYANTA MOHAN SINGHA Advocate - MR S BORTHAKUR, SR. ADV., ,MR. K GOGOI,MS. P BORAH — WA/316/2024

Case Summary: WA/316/2024 Court Decision: The Gauhati High Court dismissed FCI's appeal and upheld the Single Judge's decision reducing the respondent's punishment from removal from service with gratuity forfeiture to compulsory retirement without forfeiture. The court found the original harsh punishment disproportionate given the respondent's 34-year unblemished service record, absence of specific findings of theft or misappropriation, and prolonged 16-year delay in proceedings. Key Reasoning: While acknowledging courts cannot act as appellate forums for punishment review, the court applied proportionality principles under the Wednesbury test. The absence of concrete evidence proving intentional wrongdoing—only inferred misappropriation from foodgrain shortage—combined with the respondent's clean record, made the severe penalty excessive and warranted judicial intervention. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.