Punishment of removal from service for unauthorized absence is not justifiable: Telangana High Court

Recently, the Telangana High Court in N. Parvathalu vs. APSRTC, Rep by its Managing Director W.P. No. 19717/2022 ordered reinstatement of the service of the employee whose employment was terminated by the employer on the ground of unauthorised absence for 5(five) days. The Court observed thatthe period of unauthorised absence for 5 (five) days cannot be regarded as misconduct but only unauthorised absence, particularly when the employee submitted sickness certificate and therefore the punishment of removal from service for the charges of unauthorised absence is very harsh.