Madhya Pradesh High Court delivers justice after 25 years, reinstating railway booking clerk Narayan Nair dismissed over an alleged Rs.10 excess charge. Court finds vigilance action illegal, says he was denied fair hearing, restores dignity and service benefits.
Madhya Pradesh High Court delivers a major ruling after a 25-year legal battle. While working in Indian Railways, booking clerk Narayan Nair was allegedly caught by a vigilance team for taking Rs.10 extra from a passenger.
The department initiated disciplinary proceedings against him.
Throughout the process, Narayan Nair repeatedly insisted that he was innocent. He told the team that at the time the passenger approached the ticket counter, there was a large crowd and that the passenger’s claim could have resulted from a mistake.
Despite his explanations and attempts to present his case, disciplinary action proceeded against him without a fair and proper hearing. As a result, the Railways dismissed him from service.
The dispute began in January 2001. Narayan Nair first fought the decision before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and later approached the High Court. After nearly 25 years, a division bench of the High Court delivered its verdict on Saturday in his favour.
The bench expressed a strict view and held that the vigilance action was wrongful and that the entire vigilance process was illegal and contrary to the rules. The decision was delivered by Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Pradeep Mittal, and it has now paved the way for Narayan Nair’s reinstatement.
The incident occurred on 4 January 2002 at the ticket counter of Shridham station, where Narayan Nair was posted. A vigilance team reached the spot after an allegation by a passenger that instead of returning Rs.31, Narayan Nair allegedly gave only Rs.21.
The vigilance team claimed that Rs.450 extra was found with him.
Narayan Nair, however, maintained that the money was kept with him for purchasing medicine for his wife. The team also claimed to have found a bundle of tickets at the location, which Narayan stated he had no knowledge of. Additionally, the team alleged an excess of Rs.778, but later only Rs.7 was found to be extra.
The vigilance team framed proceedings against Narayan Nair under four charges. Following the inquiry, he was held guilty. He was first suspended, and later dismissed from service on 15 March 2002.
After dismissal, Narayan Nair challenged the order before the Senior Divisional Railway Manager, but did not receive relief. He then approached the CAT in 2002.
The CAT examined the matter and on 16 July 2004 granted relief by cancelling the dismissal order. The Railways then approached the High Court in 2005.
After years of hearings, the High Court delivered its decision in April 2026. The division bench, comprising Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Pradeep Mittal, noted serious issues with the vigilance investigation.
The court observed that the officer who conducted the inquiry acted in a manner that effectively amounted to acting as the prosecution, and that the petitioner was not given a fair chance to defend himself something the court held to be illegal.
Ultimately, the High Court upheld the CAT’s decision and dismissed the Railways’ appeal. With this judgment, Narayan Nair’s reinstatement is now expected, and he may also be entitled to benefits for the period of around 25 years during which he was out of service.