RAM CHANDER vs DELHI DISASTER MANAGEMNET AUTHORITY AND ANR.

Judgment text excerpt

$~10 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Decided on: 23.07.2025 + W.P.(C) 9872/2019 & CM APPL. 40819/2019 RAM CHANDER .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Mukesh Kumar, Mr. Madhup Tiwari, and Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Advocates. versus DELHI DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY AND ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mrs. Avnish Ahlawat, SC with Mr. N.K. Singh, Ms. Aliza Alam, and Mr. Mohnish Sehrawat, Advocates for GNCTD. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN PRATEEK JALAN, J. (ORAL) 1. By way of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioner assails an order of the respondents dated 08.05.2019, by which his services as a District Project Officer (SW) [“DPO”] in the Delhi Disaster Management Authority were terminated. 2. The petitioner was first appointed as a DPO by order dated 27.04.2011, for the period from 01.04.2011 to 06.02.2012. His appointment was renewed annually, lastly by an order dated 05.04.2019, for the period from 01.03.2019 to 28.02.2020. 3. During the subsistence of the last renewal, the respondents issued Signature Not Verified Signed By:PARUL VASHIST W.P.(C) 9872/2019 Page 1 of 5 Signing Date:26.07.2025 11:29:23 the impugned order dated 08.05.2019, which reads as follows: “Services of Sh. Ram Chander, DPO presently posted in Office of DM/DC(SW), are hereby terminated for continuous negligency of work, with immediate effect. Further, Sh. Vinod Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Warden shall look after the work of DPO(SW). This issued with approval of Competent Authority.”1 4. Mr. Mukesh Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the impugned order is vitiated by a failure of natural justice, as it was not preceded by any show cause notice, inquiry, or hearing. Although the employment of the petitioner was admittedly contractual, he submits th