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Government of NCT of Delhi vs. Ram Niwas

Writ Petition (Civil) · 2026:DHC:8193-DBDecided 21 Sept 2026New Delhi Bench
W.P.(C) 13810/2026CNR: DLHC010449532026
Justice C. Hari Shankar · Justice Nivedita Anil Sharma

Background

A Central Administrative Tribunal had earlier directed the Delhi government to reconsider and grant an employee (the respondent) a financial up-gradation under the ACP Scheme that had been wrongly denied, with arrears. When the employee felt this wasn't properly complied with, he filed a contempt petition. The Tribunal, unsatisfied that a status report showed full compliance, gave the government further time, and its officers personally assured the Tribunal that the order would be complied with within four weeks. The government then challenged these procedural Tribunal orders in this writ.

Decision Breakdown

The High Court declined to interfere, holding it saw no basis to exercise its certiorari jurisdiction over what were essentially procedural orders granting further time and recording the government's own officers' assurances of compliance: assurances given while the government was represented by two counsel, not under any unfair coercion. The Court clarified its order was not an opinion on the merits of the underlying contempt petition, which the Tribunal remains free to decide.

Lesson Learnt

Courts are reluctant to intervene in interim, largely procedural orders passed during ongoing contempt proceedings before a Tribunal, particularly where the government's own representatives voluntarily assured compliance rather than being subjected to any coercive step.

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