SIDDARTH PRADHAN vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI W.P.(C) 16294/2025, CM APPL. 66617/2025 SIDDARTH PRADHAN .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Ankur Chhibber, Adv. versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Akhil Mittal, Sr. PC with Ms. Riddhi Jain and Ms. Shayna Das Pattanayan, Advs. for UOI CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA JUDGMENT (ORAL) % 04.12.2025 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. This writ petition assails order dated 19 September 2025, passed by the Principal Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal1, dismissing OA 2850/2025. 2. The conspectus of the controversy being limited, no detailed allusion to facts is necessary. 3. Based on certain allegations against the petitioner, a Court of Inquiry2 was constituted. Consequent on the findings of the COI, a decision was taken that, in view of the nature of the allegations against 1 “AFT”, hereinafter 2 “COI”, hereinafter 1969. 4. The petitioner filed his response to the show cause notice. 5. Instead of allowing the show cause notice to be adjudicated, the petitioner moved the AFT by way of OA 2850/2025. The prayer clause in the OA read thus: “In view of the facts and circumstances stated above, it i