Supreme Court orders retirement for corrupt LIC cashier who embezzled Rs 533

NEW DELHI: No sympathy should be shown to any government employee indulging in corruption and the person should be dismissed from his job, the Supreme Court has held while awarding compulsory retirement to a Life Insurance Corporation of India cashier for misappropriating Rs 533 twenty-five years ago.

A bench of justices Vikramajit Sen and Prafulla C Pant said misappropriation of small amount cannot be a ground for awarding lighter punishment.

It said that any sympathy shown to the accused in such cases is uncalled for and opposed to public interest.

"The amount misappropriated may be small or large, it is the act of misappropriation that is relevant," the bench said adding, "Time and again, this court has consistently held that in such matters no sympathy should be shown by the courts".

It said that the punishment of compulsory retirement is not harsh or disproportionate to the guilt in the case.

In this case a policy holder had deposited with Rs 533 with the cashier towards half-yearly insurance premium in 1990 but it was not deposited with the LIC. When an inquiry was initiated, the cashier deposited the amount with a back dated entry after three months.

http://ift.tt/1kuDWdc Court,Retirement for Corrupt Official,Corrupt LIC Officer

Stay updated on the go with The Times of India’s mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.