Archive · 11 Dec 2025
Himachal HC Upholds Dismissal Over Tantrik Treatment Absence
A woman named Sapna Devi was training to be a police officer in Himachal Pradesh.
She was absent for 48 days in 2010 and said she was getting treatment from tantriks (traditional healers).
The government said this was not a good reason and fired her.
She tried to appeal, but the court said no, because she didn't prove she was really sick.
The court also said that being poor or saying you're starving isn't a good excuse to break the rules.
So, the court decided that firing her was the right thing to do.
Sapna Devi, a trainee constable, was absent for 48 days in 2010, citing treatment by tantriks.
She submitted medical certificates for only 13 of the 48 days of absence.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court upheld her dismissal, stating that treatment by tantriks is not a valid reason for absence.
The court found no admissible medical evidence and noted that Devi did not respond to the show cause notice.
The court concluded that her conduct indicated wilful absence and that there were no infirmities in her discharge orders.
- Who
- Sapna Devi, a trainee constable in Himachal Pradesh
- What
- Dismissal upheld by the Himachal Pradesh High Court for wilful absence
- When
- Original absence in 2010, dismissal in 2010, appeal rejected in 2015, court ruling in 2023
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh, India
- Why
- Absence attributed to treatment by tantriks, deemed invalid by the court
- Petitioner
- Sapna Devi
- Absence Duration
- 48 days (February 19 to April 6, 2010)
- Medical Certificates Submitted
- 13 days
- Dismissal Date
- August 25, 2010
- Appeal Rejection Date
- April 22, 2015
- Court Ruling Date
- November 18, 2023
- Judge
- Justice Ranjan Sharma
- Punjab Police Rule Cited
- Rule for discharging constables within 3 years of enrolment