JOLLY BATOO vs GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI AND OTHERS

Judgment text excerpt

$~62 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 27th February, 2026 + W.P.(C) 16751/2024, CM APPL. 70916/2024 & CM APPL. 13157/2026 JOLLY BATOO .....Petitioner Through: versus GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI AND OTHERS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Santosh Kumar Tripathi, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Siddharth Krishna Dwivedi, Mr. Rishabh Srivastava and Ms. Ayushi, Advocates for R-4 and R-5. Mr. Arun Panwar, Advocate for R-6 to R-9. Ms. Latika Choudhary, Advocate for R-1. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA JUDGMENT SANJEEV NARULA, J. (Oral): 1. The petition concerns seniority in the Post Graduate Teacher grade in Lady Irwin Senior Secondary School, a recognised aided School governed by the Delhi School Education Act and the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973. The Petitioner, a direct recruit PGT (Commerce), questions the validity of the seniority list finalised on 22nd March, 2022 and seeks restoration of the seniority position reflected in a list prepared on 9th Signature Not Verified Dgitally Signed By:ANITA BAITAL W.P.(C) 16751/2024 Page 1 of 17 Signing Date:02.03.2026 17:34:19 October, 2020. The challenge is not academic. The Petitioner assails the consequential use of the 2022 seniority list for convening the Departmental Promotion Committee on 28th November, 2024 for promotion of Respondent No. 7 (Ms. Sharda Verma) to the post of Vice Principal, and seeks to prevent effect being given to the recommendation made therein. Facts 2. The School issued an advertisement in March 2008 inviting applications for various posts, including PGT (Commerce). The Petitioner applied and appeared in the selection process. The record shows that she was interviewed on 12th June, 2008. The School issued her an appointment letter on 30th July, 2008. The terms required fulfil