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Madras High Court· 11 September 2026

Can discipline in uniformed forces be compromised in any circumstances?

THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE v. A. SRIDHARAN
WA.3322/2023 · 2026:MHC:3837 · WA No. 3322 of 2023
Coram: Justice S. M. Subramaniam · Justice Krishnaswamy Govindarajan
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Answer

Discipline in uniformed forces cannot be compromised in any circumstances.

No. Discipline in uniformed forces cannot be compromised in any circumstances. Indiscipline or involvement of police personnel in any criminal case is undoubtedly to be viewed seriously and to be proceeded with in accordance with law.

Headnote

Service law — Departmental disciplinary proceedings — Acquittal on benefit of doubt — Preponderance of probabilities — Uniformed force — Discipline — Writ Court — Further leniency — Service law — Departmental disciplinary proceedings — Acquittal on benefit of doubt — Held: Acquittal in a criminal case on the benefit of doubt is not a ground for exoneration from departmental disciplinary proceedings, criminal trial and departmental disciplinary proceedings being distinct and different. (¶8) Service law — Standard of proof — Preponderance of probabilities — Held further: Proof of misconduct under the Discipline and Appeal Rules requires only preponderance of probabilities, not the strict proof required to convict under criminal law, and the disciplinary authority is empowered to draw inferences on that standard. (¶8, 9) Service law — Uniformed force — Discipline — Held further: Discipline in uniformed forces cannot be compromised in any circumstances, and involvement of police personnel in a criminal case is to be viewed seriously. (¶12) Service law — Judicial review of punishment — Further leniency — Held further: A writ Court cannot show further leniency where the appellate authority has modified the punishment and its order is not perverse. Writ appeal allowed. (¶12, 13)

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In the Court's own words
Paragraph 12Discipline in uniformed forces at no circumstances be compromised. Indiscipline or involvement of the police personnel in any criminal case is undoubtedly to be viewed seriously and to be proceeded in accordance with law. The only point is whether the defence taken by the delinquent officer has been considered by the competent authority as well as the appellate authority. In the present case, the facts, circumstances, length of services, preponderance of probabilities on certain facts are considered by the appellate authority taking note of the totality of the circumstances which cannot be construed as perverse.

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Also decided in this judgment
Is acquittal in a criminal case on the benefit of doubt a ground for exoneration from departmental disciplinary proceedings?Does proof of misconduct under the Discipline and Appeal Rules require only preponderance of probabilities and not the strict proof required to convict under criminal law?Can a writ Court show further leniency where the appellate authority has modified the punishment and its order is not perverse?
Plain-language answer prepared by the LexStreak Editorial Desk — verify against the judgment. Source: Madras High Court. Corrections