PRATIGYA SHARMA vs AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA

Judgment text excerpt

$~104 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Decided on 23.04.2025 + W.P.(C) 17783/2024 PRATIGYA SHARMA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Alok Raj and Mr. Baliram Kumar Thakur, Advocates. versus AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA .....Respondent Through: Mr. Digvijay Rai, Mr. Archit Mishra, Advocates with Mr. Yatinder Singh, Law Officer for AAI. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN PRATEEK JALAN, J (ORAL) 1. The petitioner has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, challenging the cancellation of her candidature for appointment as a Junior Executive (Air Traffic Control) in the respondent - Airports Authority of India [“AAI”] in the Other Backward Classes-Non Creamy Layer [“OBC-NCL”] category. A. Facts: 2. By way of advertisement No. 05/2023 issued on 14.10.2023, AAI invited applications for 496 vacancies in the post of Junior Executive (Air Traffic Control). 140 vacancies were reserved for OBC-NCL category. The instructions, which were part of the recruitment notification, included the following provision with regard to the OBC Category: “7. IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS: xxx xxx xxx Signature Not Verified Signed By:UMANG KHANNA W.P.(C) 17783/2024 Page 1 of 8 Signing Date:26.04.2025 17:23:49 (iv) OBC Certificate:- Candidates applying against vacancies reserved for OBC category should note that at the time of Application Verification, they have to produce a valid OBC (NCL) Certificate issued during Financial Year 2023-24 in the format for appointment to posts under the Government of India, issued by the Competent Authority, in support of their belonging to OBC community in the Central list of OBC and to prove that they do not belong to "Creamy Layer" of the OBCs. A declaration shall also be submitted by the candidate before his/her appointment that he/she d