NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION vs DHARAM VEER SINGH

Judgment text excerpt

$~34 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + LPA 79/2025, CM APPLs. 6252/2025, 6253/2025, 6254/2025 & 6255/2025 NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION .....Appellant Through: Mr. Jayesh K. Unnikrishnan and Ms. Smriti Parija, Advs. versus DHARAM VEER SINGH .....Respondent Through: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAY DIGPAUL JUDGMENT (ORAL) % 31.01.2025 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. This Letters Patent Appeal assails judgment dated 19 September 2024 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in WP (C) 6326/2022. 2. The respondent, who was the petitioner in the writ petition, responded to an advertisement, whereby applications were sought from persons who desired to join the services of the petitioner as Law Officer/Consultant. Clause 1 of the advertisement provided thus: LPA 79/2025 Signature Not Verified Page 1 of 8 Signed By:MEENU KALRA Signing Date:12.02.2025 17:46:04 “Terms & Conditions: - 1. The engagement will be purely temporary on contract. However, it may be extended on the basis of satisfactory performance at 10% enhanced remuneration every year. ...............” 3. Having responded to the aforesaid advertisement and having been found fit for appointment, the respondent was appointed as Consultant vide letter dated 1 February 2016. The respondent remained in the service of the appellant for 14 years, from 16 January 1997 to 30 June 2011. He superannuated on 30 June 2011. His contract, which was initially for a period of one year, was extended annually time to time till 30 June 2021. However, his pay was never enhanced and continued, till the date he retired, at ₹ 45,000/- per month, which was the initial pay on which he was taken on contract. 4. The respondent petitioned this Court by way of WP (C) 6326/2022, submitting that,