Court upholds CISF sacking drunk-on-duty constable

As a Central Industrial Security Force constable found out, alcohol is not just injurious to health, but also spells doom for your career.

As a Central Industrial Security Force constable found out, alcohol is not just injurious to health, but also spells doom for your career. A Delhi High Court upheld constable Mukesh Singh’s dismissal ten years ago, after he attacked two colleagues in a drunken stupor.

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The court upheld the conclusion of four disciplinary authorities that it was a “grave and inexcusable act”.

Justice Gita Mittal and Justice JR Midha agreed with the CISF’s argument that “an attack on other force members under intoxication by a member of an armed force shows gross indiscipline and tarnishes the image of the Force”.

The court said Singh was hauled up 10 times earlier for different acts of “indiscipline, disobedience of orders, misconduct and misbehaviour”.

The CISF had said that when a doctor examined him two hours after the incident on December 13, 1999, “Singh’s pupils were semi-dilated, his speech was slurred, his way of walking was abnormal. There was also smell of alcohol coming from of his breath.”

Defending himself, Singh admitted he was drunk, but said that in such a state he never abused his colleagues. He claimed the two CISF personnel were injured in separate scuffle, but he was “framed”.

The court, however, found strong evidence against him in the form of witnesses.

Although Singh’s counsel called the dismissal “grossly disproportionate” to the charges against him, the court, said considering the “totality of circumstances” (earlier misconduct punishments) said Singh did not deserve leniency.