LT. COL. SHAJI JOSEPH (RETD.) vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

$~ * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on: 17 March 2025 Pronounced on: 24 March 2025 W.P.(C) 7446/2022 & CM APPL. 22702/2022 LT. COL. SHAJI JOSEPH (RETD.) .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Ankur Chhibber, Mr. Anshuman Mehrotra, Mr. Nikunj Arora, Advs. versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Jitesh Vikram Srivastava, SPC and Mr. Prajesh Vikram Srivastava, Advs. with Major Anish Muralidhar, Army CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAY DIGPAUL JUDGMENT % 24.03.2025 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. The petitioner Lt Col Shaji Joseph joined the Department of Posts as a Short Duty Postal Assistant in August 1985. He was transferred on deputation to the Army Postal Service1 as Field Servant Volunteer in the rank of Warrant Officer on 28 December 1988, to serve in a combatant capacity. Consequent to his passing the JCO cadre course, he was promoted as Junior Commissioned Officer in the 1 “APS” hereinafter 1996. He obtained temporary commission as Lieutenant in the APS on 1 May 1997. He was successively promoted, thereafter, as Captain, Major and, finally, as Lieutenant Colonel w.e.f. 1 May 2010. 2. On 21 April 2017, the petitioner applied t