An employee who is governed by the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 committed a theft in the course of his employment. And consequently his services was terminated. State in this connection, whether the gratuity payable to him shall be wholly or partly forfeited.
The gratuity payable to an employee may be wholly or partially forfeited, where the services of an employee are terminated on the ground of:
(i) riotous or disorderly conduct or act of violence; or
(ii) committing an offence involving moral turpitude in the course of his employment.
Theft is an offence involving moral turpitude and consequently, if the services of an employee had been terminated for committing theft in the course of his employment, the gratuity payable to him under the provisions of the Act shall be wholly forfeited in view of Section 4.