The Patna High Court, while hearing a case related to a departmental inquiry, observed that an unverified news report published in a newspaper cannot by itself be treated as conclusive evidence to establish alleged misconduct.

The court clarified that proper and reliable evidence is necessary to establish allegations in departmental proceedings. Merely relying on a report published in the media does not automatically establish allegations made against an employee or officer.

The court also observed that a news report may serve as a source of information about an incident. However, if the facts reported have not been independently verified and there is no other reliable material supporting them, it would not be appropriate to determine departmental guilt solely on the basis of that report.

The observation underlines the importance of natural justice and evidentiary standards in departmental inquiries. The court’s approach indicates that before action is taken against an employee, the allegations should be properly examined and conclusions should be based on credible evidence.

The Patna High Court’s decision is significant in matters involving government employees and departmental inquiries.