ABHAY SINGH vs AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA & ORS.

Judgment text excerpt

$~2 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Decided on: 18.07.2025 + W.P.(C) 9636/2025 and CM APPL. 40426/2025 ABHAY SINGH .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Satwik Misra, Ms. Gunjan Dogra and Ms. Devashree, Advocates. versus AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Vaibhav Kalra, Ms. Neha Bhatnagar, Advocates with Mr. Shiv Dal, Jt. GM, CNS, Mr. Digambar, DGM, HR, Mr. Sudeep Kumar, SM, CNS and Mr. Jayesh, Law Officer for R-1/AAI. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN PRATEEK JALAN, J. (ORAL) 1. The petitioner, who is serving as an Assistant General Manager with the respondent- Airports Authority of India [“AAI”], has filed the present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, assailing his transfer from Ayodhya to Dholera, by way of an Annual Transfer List- 2025 issued by AAI on 19.05.2025. 2. I have heard Mr. Satwik Misra, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Mr. Vaibhav Kalra, learned counsel for the respondent- AAI. 3. The principal ground of challenge is that the petitioner was transferred to Ayodhya under a transfer order dated 07.06.2023, and has not yet completed the minimum tenure of three years, which was then applicable to “tenure stations” under the Transfer Policy of AAI. Signature Not Verified Signed By:SOMYA W.P.(C) 9636/2025 Page 1 of 8 SATIJA Signing Date:19.07.2025 18:48:35 Ayodhya was, at the relevant time, designated as a “tenure station”. 4. It is the accepted position that AAI designates stations as “tenure stations” and “non-tenure stations”, the implication being with regard to the minimum period of posting. At the relevant time, a minimum posting of three years was provided for tenure stations, while the minimum posting at non-tenure stations was only one year. 5. For the transfers proposed in the year 2023, it is