MUJEEB KHAN FOR AND ON BEHALF OF AFTAB KHAN MISSING vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

Judgment text excerpt

$~51 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision : 16.02.2026 + LPA 73/2026, CM APPL. 10469/2026 & CM APPL. 10470/2026 MUJEEB KHAN FOR AND ON BEHALF OF AFTAB KHAN MISSING .....Appellant Through: Mr. Zeeshan Khan, Mr. Kaleem Akthar & Mr. Saeed Masroor, Advocates (through VC). versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Amit Tiwari, CGSC with Mr. Varun Pratap Singh, GP and Mr. Ayush Tanwar, Advocate. CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA JUDGMENT TEJAS KARIA, J. (ORAL) 1. This Letters Patent Appeal is preferred against the Judgment and Order dated 15.01.2026 (“Impugned Judgment”) passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.(C) 2894/2025 (“Writ Petition”), whereby the Writ Petition filed by the Appellant was disposed of on the premise that the matter is ‘no longer a case of missing person’. 2. The primary concern raised by the Appellant in this Appeal is that the Impugned Judgment was delivered without addressing the substantive and ongoing grievance regarding the provision of consular access and legal Signature Not Verified Signed By:NEELAM LPA 73/2026 Page 1 of 5 SHARMA Signing Date:17.02.2026 16:40:39 assistance necessary for initiating proceedings in the Republic of Maldives against the Employer - Resort for alleged negligence and violation of Labour and Safety Laws. 3. The Appellant is the brother and next of kin of late Mr. Aftab Khan, an Indian citizen, who was employed as a Chef De Partie with Ifuru Island Resort at Republic of Maldives (“Resort”) on a valid work visa valid from 13.03.2024 to 13.03.2026. On 27.01.2025, the said Mr. Aftab Khan went missing under suspicious and unexplained circumstances while allegedly undertaking a snorkelling activity originating from the Resort at which he was working. 4. In