UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. vs DR. KHURSHEED KHATOON

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI W.P.(C) 4645/2026, CM APPL. 22648/2026 & CM APPL. 22649/2026 UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Himanshu Pathak and Mr. Chetanya Puri, SPC with Mr. Mohit Gupta and Ms. Garima Mehta, Advs. versus DR. KHURSHEED KHATOON .....Respondent Through: Mr. Ankur Chhibber, Mr. Yogesh Kumar Mahur, Mr. Harkesh Parashar and Ms. Yogita, Advs. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA JUDGMENT (ORAL) % 08.04.2026 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. The respondent was appointed as Assistant Research Officer in the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine1 in 1986 on ad hoc basis against a substantive vacancy. She was re-appointed in 1996. There was a break in service between 1986 and 1996. However, after 1996, she continued on ad hoc basis till her services were regularised in February 2004. 2. It is not in dispute that, if the respondent were to be entitled to 1 “CCRUM” hereinafter 2004. 3. The respondent represented to the CCRUM for counting of her ad hoc service for reckoning her pensionary benefits and, accordingly, for extending her the benefit of the OPS. 4. As the CCRUM did not accede to the respondent’