Section 20A: Adjudication of penalties

- For the purpose of adjudicating penalties under section 20, the Central Government shall, appoint an officer at least one rank higher than the competent authority as an

adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry and imposing penalties in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that the Central Government may appoint as many adjudicating officers as may be required:

Provided further that no such penalty shall be imposed without giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard.]

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 20A

No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.