No leniency drunken driving cases Supreme Court

No leniency drunken driving cases Supreme Court

On January 27, The Supreme Court of India said that even if there was no major loss and it was a minor accident cannot be a ground to show leniency. It was merely good luck that no fatality happened however, it could have been a fatal accident. The apex court made the observation while dealing with a petition challenging an order of Allahabad High Court. 

 A division bench of Justice MR Shah and Justice BV Nagarthna said that driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and playing with the lives of others is very serious misconduct. The employee Brijesh Chandra was a driver posted at the 12th Batallion, PAC personnel from Fatehpur to Allahabad on Kumbh Mela duty. He was charged for hitting a jeep with his truck. The Inquiry Officer proposed punishment of dismissal which was confirmed by the Appellate Authority. The employee then filed a writ petition before the Allahabad Court, which dismissed his petition. Then he appealed before the apex court, where his punishment of dismissal is converted to compulsory retirement, as the employee served for 25 years and has since died. Now, death-cum-retirement will benefit the family. The court said that the punishment of dismissal has now been converted into one of compulsory retirement. (ANI reported)