Disciplinary proceedings cannot be withheld till the completion of criminal trial: Orissa HC

Orissa HC in the case of Deepak Kumar vs. Union of India & Ors. (W.P.(C) No. 7349 of 2025), recently  held that disciplinary proceedings could proceed independently of any ongoing criminal trial unless explicitly barred by statute. The Court emphasized that departmental inquiries are not bound by strict rules of evidence and that delays in criminal cases should not deprive the employer of the opportunity to discipline a delinquent employee.