DEV RAJ vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

Judgment text excerpt

$~77 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision : 19.02.2026 + W.P.(C) 2373/2026 DEV RAJ .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Sonam D. Mehta, Adv. versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Ranjeet Pandey, Adv., SPC, Mr. Ajay Pal, Law Officer, Insp Athurv and Mr. Ramniwas Yadav, CRPF. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA V. KAMESWAR RAO, J. (ORAL) CM APPL. 11570/2026 (Exemption) 1. Exemption is allowed, subject to all just exceptions. 2. The application is disposed of. W.P.(C) 2373/2026 3. This petition has been filed with the following prayers: “a) issue a writ of certiorari or any other suitable writ or order or direction quashing & setting aside the impugned order dated 01/12/2025 vide which petitioner’s representation against the expunction of adverse remarks from petitioner’s APAR for the Signature Not Verified Signed By:PRADEEP W.P. (C) 2373/2026 Page 1 of 4 SHARMA Signing Date:21.02.2026 16:59:01 period of 01/04/2023 to 04/09/2023 was rejected; b) issue a writ of certiorari or any other suitable writ or order or direction quashing & setting aside the downgraded APAR of the petitioner for the period of 01/04/2023 to 04/09/2023; c) issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent no. 2 to upgrade the downgraded APAR of the petitioner for the period of 01/04/2023 to 04/09/2023 from the level of “Good” to “Very Good” 4. In effect, the petitioner is challenging the expunction of his adverse remarks in his Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) for the period of 01.04.2023 to 04.09.2023. The impugned order passed by the Director General (DG), CRPF dated 01.12.2025 on the application made by the petitioner with respect to the APARs reads as under: “2. The issues raised vide your applica