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Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.

Criminal Appeal · 2026 INSC 128Decided 6 Feb 2026
Crl.A. No.-001425-001425 - 2025 (Interlocutory Application No. 25652 of 2026)
Justice J.B. Pardiwala · Justice R. Mahadevan

Background

This document is a brief procedural order, not a full judgment, issued within an already-pending criminal appeal. An interlocutory application asked the Court to direct the appointment of Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, as a Technical Consultant to a "National Task Force" tasked with scientifically analysing certain survey data, and to have the Ministry of Education provide him administrative support and remuneration. The underlying merits of the criminal appeal itself are not discussed in this particular order.

Decision Breakdown

After hearing the Amicus Curiae and the Additional Solicitor General for the Union of India, the Court granted the application in full. It directed the Ministry of Education to formally appoint Dr. Anant as Technical Consultant to the National Task Force, to extend all necessary infrastructure and data access to him, and to pay him appropriate remuneration in line with prevailing norms. With these directions, the interlocutory application was disposed of.

Lesson Learnt

Not every document generated in a Supreme Court case is a decision on the merits: this is a short administrative order showing how the Court can direct government machinery to supply technical expertise in aid of an ongoing matter, distinct from resolving the underlying dispute itself.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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