Sympathy Cannot Override Law: SC Upholds Sacking for Non-Disclosure of Criminal Cases

• The Supreme Court set aside an Allahabad High Court order, reinstating a Uttar Pradesh government employee.
• The employee was sacked for failing to disclose pending criminal cases during recruitment.
• Justices Sanjay Karol and NK Singh ruled that disclosure of criminal antecedents is a foundational condition for public service.
• The court applied the legal maxim dura lex, sed lex, stating that compassion cannot supplant legal principles.
• Non-disclosure of criminal cases, especially if repeated, is a serious lapse undermining fairness and integrity in recruitment.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court rules sympathy cannot override law, upholding termination for non-disclosure of criminal cases.