The Jharkhand High Court has dismissed a plea by the central government and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and upheld a single judge’s order to quash the removal of a constable from service in connection with a 1999 theft incident at Bokaro Steel Plant.

A division bench of Justices Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Arun Kumar Rai said the punishment of removal was “grossly in excess” of the allegations and failed the test of proportionality.

“The petitioner is a member of the disciplined Force expected to be diligent and attentive in his duty, and such negligence was not expected from a member of the Force, but at the same time, we cannot lose sight of the fact that there is nothing on record to suggest that the service career of the petitioner was not impeccable before his removal,” the court said on February 17.

The CISF constable was removed from service in 1999 for allegedly failing to prevent the theft of approximately 100 kg of items during his shift at the Bokaro Steel Plant.