The Supreme Court has strongly disapproved the arrogance and vanity of superior officers while dealing with their subordinates. A bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and A K Patnaik while allowing the appeal of CRPF Head Constable Angad Das noted, ‘People in power and authority should not easily lose equanimity, compose and appreciation for the problems of the lesser mortals.’ ‘They are always expected to remember that power and authority must be judiciously exercised according to the laws and human compassion. Arrogance and vanity have no place in discharge of their official functions and duties,’ the bench further said. The constable was posted in Jammu and Kashmir and was compulsorily retired on the ground that his date of birth was false. Following which, Das wrote a letter to DIG and made a humble request for his reinstatement. The DIG responded to his request by enhancing his punishment from compulsory retirement to removal from service. The apex court while imposing a cost of Rs 50,000 on the Union Government directed that Das shall be paid all pensionary benefits which have become due with nine per cent interest and expressed the hope that senior officers in future would not be totally oblivious of the problems of the humble and modest employees and pass similar orders. The apex court restored the punishment of compulsory retirement.
