What is the significance of Article 311 with respect to civil servants' rights and protections?
The significance of Article 311 with respect to civil servants' rights and protections lies in its provisions that emphasize due process, fairness, and safeguards against arbitrary dismissal or reduction in rank. It states that a person employed in a civil service cannot be dismissed, removed, or reduced in rank by an authority subordinate to the one that appointed them. Additionally, such actions must occur after an inquiry where the individual is informed of the charges against them and given a reasonable opportunity to be heard. However, there are certain exceptions where these protections may not apply, such as when a person is dismissed or removed due to a criminal conviction, or when it's deemed impractical or unsafe to hold an inquiry.