Dear AS,
Show cause notice can be issued on either of the two occasions, firstly, when the management is primafacie convinced of the violence of the working conditions laid down by the management applicable for workmen and that the management does not want to drag the matter for long. In such a situation the management apprises the workman of the act of misconduct he has committed and the punishment it intends to impose if the person concerned does not have an explanation satisfying the management, an(d the management awards the punishment to the workman if the explanation is not found satisfactory. Normally, a show cause is issued in this situation when the management intends to imposea minor penalty on the workman.
In the second situation the disciplinary action has been completed and the competent authority has decided to impose a particular punishment, the workman, with a view to extend further principles of natural justice to the case, it provide one more opportunity to workman to bring out any further tangible explanation (before awarding the punishment) in support of his innocence in the matter, which he could not do earlier due to any reaason.
A chargesheet is issued where charges as well as acts of misconduct against the workman are clearly spelt out . The management, if not satisfied with the explanation of the concerned,, may proceed further with the domestic enquiry on the merits of charges found established or otherwise as the case may be.
Regards
S.K.Johri