STATE OF BIHAR & ORS. vs RAKESH KUMAR DUBEY & ORS.

Judgment text excerpt

$~17 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 27.02.2026 + W.P.(C) 2793/2026, CM APPL. 13529/2026, CM APPL. 13530/2026 and CM APPL. 13531/2026 STATE OF BIHAR & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Azmat Hayat Amanullah, ASC along with Ms. Rebecca Mishra, Advocate and Ms. Vanshita Gupta, Advs. versus RAKESH KUMAR DUBEY & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Siddharth with Mr. Harshit Manwani, Ms. Himanshi Girdhar and Mr. Deepanshu Grover, Advs. for R-1. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KSHETARPAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT MAHAJAN J U D G M E N T (ORAL) ANIL KSHETARPAL, J.: 1. By way of the present Petition, the Petitioner assails the correctness of the order dated 17.10.2025 [hereinafter referred to as ‘Impugned Order’] passed by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi [hereinafter referred to as ‘Tribunal’] in M.A. No. 544/2024 in O.A. No.3143/2022. 2. By the Impugned Order, the Tribunal dismissed the application preferred by the present Petitioner-Employer seeking extension of time for completion of the pending disciplinary proceedings against Respondent No.1. Signature Not Verified Signed By:SAVITA PASRICHA W.P.(C) 2793/2026 Signing Date:28.02.2026 Page 1 of 6 14:32:02 3. The limited issue which arises for consideration in the present petition is whether, in the facts and circumstances obtaining in the case, the Tribunal was justified in declining further extension of time for completion of the disciplinary inquiry. FACTUAL BAKGROUND 4. The factual background, to the extent relevant for adjudication of the present petition, is not in serious dispute. 5. Respondent No.1, at the relevant point of time, was posted as Superintendent of Police. Articles of Charges were framed against him alleging that he had facilitated illegal