Can you explain what it means when an appellate authority changes a disciplinary punishment? For example, if someone’s basic pay is reduced by three steps until their retirement date of 30th November 2016, and they’re no longer eligible for salary, increments, or other benefits.

An appellate authority can modify a disciplinary punishment, which in this case means reducing the employee’s basic pay by three steps until their retirement date. This means the employee will receive a lower salary and be ineligible for increments and benefits for the remaining duration of their service.