Chandigarh, Feb. 14 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has modified punishment awarded to a retired bank employee observing that excessive, unwarranted punishment is violation of right to equality.

".any penalty imposed upon a delinquent employee in disciplinary proceedings must bear a just and reasonable relationship to the gravity of the misconduct established against them. A punishment which is excessive significantly disproportionate to the proven charges not only offends the canons of fair play and reasonableness but also constitutes a violation of the fundamental right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution of India," the bench of justice HS Brar observed while dealing with the plea of a retired bank employee.

The peti...