Competent Authority can opt for other officers’ assistance for surprise checks; Kerala HC declines to quash corruption case against Excise Officer
“Clause 16 of the Government Order uses the term ‘may’ and not ‘shall’, and therefore assistance of a higher authority of the department concerned is not mandatory. Mere irrelevant procedural irregularities would not vitiate the proceedings unless they have an absolute deterrent effect to destroy the prosecution case in toto.”