The Karnataka High Court has ruled that a government employee cannot be denied promotion just because of "mere contemplation of disciplinary action" if no charge sheet is served by the date of promotion assessment. Justice M. Nagaprasanna said, "The departmental proceedings are deemed to commence only upon the formal issuance of a charge sheet. Neither the act of suspension nor the issuance of a show cause notice has the effect of initiating disciplinary proceedings." The court stated that the key date to check eligibility is when the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meets. "Only if on that date, the officer has an issued charge sheet can the promotion be withheld," the judge added. This ruling came in a petition filed by Maruthi Rao, an assistant accounts officer with Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL). His promotion to accounts officer was assessed by the DPC on April 16, 2018. However, his promotion decision was kept in a sealed cover because disciplinary proceedings were "contemplated" against him while others, including juniors, were promoted. The court noted Rao was suspended from August 22, 2014, to November 12, 2014, but the charge sheet was served only on October 29, 2021—years after his promotion assessment. It said, "Though suspension is never a disability for consideration of promotion, the suspension was not in effect on the date of consideration." The court ruled that a charge sheet issued years after the promotion assessment "cannot retrospectively deprive" Rao of his rightful promotion. KPTCL was ordered to promote Rao to the accounts officer post effective from April 16, 2018, within eight weeks.