SANDEEP KUMAR vs UNION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS NEW DELHI AND ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Decided on: 13.10.2025 W.P.(C) 4310/2025, CM APPLs. 19970/2025 & 32022/2025 SANDEEP KUMAR .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Durgesh Gupta, Advocate. versus UNION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS NEW DELHI AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Piyush Gupta, CGSC Mr. Atishay Jain, Mr. Ashish Rajput, Mr. Jatin Sethi and Ms. Divya Singh, Advocates. Mr. Sanjay Pal, GP for UOI. Ms. Raavi Birbal, Advocate for R- 2 to 4. Mr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Intervener Applicant in person in CM APPL. 32022/2025. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN PRATEEK JALAN, J (ORAL) 1. The petitioner has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, challenging orders of the Disciplinary Authority, Appellate Authority, and Reviewing Authority of the respondent – Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. [“HPCL”] dated 11.12.2023, 25.05.2024 and 28.01.2025 respectively. He also assails an order dated 06.03.2024, which withheld his gratuity. 2. On 08.10.2025, it was noted that a preliminary objection has been taken by the respondent in their counter affidavit, with regard to territorial jurisdiction. Paragraph 3 of the counter affidavit, t