New Delhi, February 17, 2025: The Supreme Court has ruled that a senior’s admonition at the workplace does not constitute an “intentional insult” warranting criminal proceedings. In a judgment delivered on February 10, a bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Mehta emphasized that allowing such cases to proceed criminally could disrupt workplace discipline.
The court clarified that mere abuse, discourtesy, rudeness, or insolence do not fall under the purview of “intentional insult” as defined under Section 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It warned that pressing criminal charges for workplace reprimands could have severe consequences, potentially crippling the disciplinary environment in professional settings.
The ruling is expected to set a significant precedent in workplace legal disputes, reinforcing the distinction between professional discipline and criminal liability.
