Yes, I am familiar with what you are referring to. The theory of punishment that was developed by a group of miners was known as the "Benigni Attack". The idea was to punish selfish miners by orphaning their blocks and thereby depriving them of the reward for mining a new block.
However, it was later discovered that this approach may actually incentivize more selfish mining, as the difficulty adjustment mechanism in the Bitcoin network typically works to ensure that blocks are produced at a relatively steady rate. If a large portion of miners suddenly started orphaning blocks, it could cause a chain reaction that leads to reduced block production and network disruptions.
As with many aspects of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, the landscape is constantly changing, and new research and theories are emerging all the time. It is important for members of the community to carefully consider the potential consequences of different approaches and to work collaboratively towards a common goal of creating a stable and secure financial system.