The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that minor penalties, such as the stoppage of one annual increment without future effect, should not impede a government employee's seniority or promotion. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar overturned a seniority list that demoted an officer below his juniors due to such a penalty. The court directed the state to consider the employee for promotion from the date his juniors were promoted, acknowledging his eligibility and the detriment caused by the minor punishment.