RAVI KUMAR TRIPATHI & ORS. vs PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE HEADQUARTERS TIS HAZARI DISTRICT COURTS DELHI

Judgment text excerpt

$~2 (03.03.2026) * IN THE HIGH OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 25th April, 2026. + W.P.(C) 1349/2022 RAVI KUMAR TRIPATHI & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Ms. Amita Singh Kalkal and Ms. Aditi Gupta, Advocates. versus PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE HEADQUARTERS TIS HAZARI DISTRICT COURTS DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Nitesh Kumar Singh, Advocate. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA JUDGMENT SANJEEV NARULA, J. (Oral): [As per Notification No. 64/G-4/Gen1.-I/DHC dated 27th February, 2026, matters listed on 3rd March, 2026 (on account of “Holi”), are to be taken up on 25th April, 2026.”] 1. The Petitioners are employees of the Delhi District Courts establishment, having entered service as Junior Judicial Assistants (earlier designated as LDCs/Ahlmads/Assistant Ahlmads). Their grievance arises from a series of orders whereby promotions granted to them to the post of Judicial Assistant were subsequently withdrawn. The challenge is not premised on denial of initial consideration; rather, it is undisputed that the Petitioners were duly promoted, discharged duties on the higher post for varying periods, and were thereafter reverted on the ground that such Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:AKANSHA SINGH W.P.(C) 1349/2022 Page 1 of 19 Signing Date:29.04.2026 14:54:10 promotions were purely officiating in nature. 2. The Petitioners seek quashing of the orders dated 20th September, 2017, 6th December, 2017 and 13th February, 2019, in so far as those orders withdrew their promotions. They also seek a direction that no recovery be made of the salary or arrears paid to them on account of their having worked as Judicial Assistants pursuant to the promotion orders dated 23 rd August, 2017 and 20th September, 2017. Factual background 3. On 29th January, 2