Delhi Transport Corporation vs. Sh. Rajender Singh & Anr.
Background
The respondent employee had been removed from Delhi Transport Corporation's service for remaining continuously absent from duty since 2009, and had still not rejoined even by the time he filed his case before the Central Administrative Tribunal. The Tribunal set aside his removal and DTC challenged that order before the High Court.
Decision Breakdown
The Division Bench found that the Tribunal's order did not properly engage with the actual grounds on which the employee had been punished or whether that punishment was justified: the reasoning was too thin. With the consent of both sides, the Court quashed the Tribunal's order and sent the case back for a fresh, more thorough hearing, making clear the Tribunal should decide afresh without being influenced by its earlier order.
Lesson Learnt
A tribunal (or any adjudicating body) must give reasoned findings that actually address the disputed issues: a bare order lacking real analysis can be sent back for reconsideration even years into litigation.