23. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained as to lay-off, retrenchment, discharge and termination of service elsewhere in this Act, a worker may be dismissed without a notice or without wages in lieu of a notice if he is-
(a) convicted of any criminal offence; or
(b) found guilty of misconduct under section 24.
(2) A worker found guilty of misconduct may, instead of being dismissed under sub-section (1), under any extenuating circumstances, be awarded any of the following punishments, namely:-
(a) removal;
(b) reduction to a lower post, grade or scale of pay for a period not exceeding 1 (one) year;
(c) stoppage of promotion for a period not exceeding 1 (one) year;
(d) withholding of increment for a period not exceeding 1 (one) year;
(e) fine;
(f) suspension without wages or without subsistence allowance for a period not exceeding 7 (seven) days;
(g) censure and warning.
1[(3) A worker who is dismissed under sub-section (2)(a) shall, if the period of his continuous service is not less than 1 (one) year, be paid by the employer as compensation 15 (fifteen) days wages for every completed year of his service: Provided that no worker shall be entitled to any compensation if he is dismissed for misconduct under sub-section (4)(b) and (g); but in such case, the worker concerned shall get other lawful dues as usual.]
(4) The following acts shall be treated as misconduct, namely:-
(a) willful disobedience, whether alone or in combination with others to any lawful or reasonable order of a superior;
(b) theft,1[misappropriation,] fraud or dishonesty in connection with business or property of the employer;
(c) taking or giving bribe in connection with his or any other worker's employment under the employer;
(d) habitual absence without leave or absence for more than 10 (ten) days at a time without obtaining leave;
(e) habitual late attendance;
(f) habitual breach of any law or rule or regulation applicable to the establishment;
2[(g) disorderliness, riot, arson or breakage in the establishment;];
(h) habitual negligence in work;
(i) habitual breach of any rule relating to employment, including discipline or conduct, approved by the Chief Inspector;
(j) altering, forging, wrongfully changing, damaging or causing lose to employer's official records.
(5) If a worker dismissed under sub-section (1) (a), is acquitted on an appeal, he shall be reinstated to his original post or shall be appointed to a suitable new post; and if any of them is not possible, he shall be paid compensation at a rate equal to the rate of compensation payable to a discharged worker, deducting the amount of compensation already paid to him for his dismissal.