Kevlanand Joshi & ORS. v. Reserve Bank Of India

$~5 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 8515/2025 & CM APPL. 36919/2025 KEVLANAND JOSHI & ORS.

.....Petitioners Through:

Mr.

Prosenjeet Banerjee, Mr.

Harshit Joshi, Mr. Vikrant Kumar, Mr. Sarthak Bhardwaj & Ms.

Anshika Sharma, Advocates.

versus RESERVE BANK OF INDIA .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Ramesh Babu, Ms. Manish Singh & Ms.

Jagriti Bharti, Advocates.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

O R D E R

% 24.09.2025 1.

The petitioners have been engaged as Pharmacists by the respondent - Reserve Bank of India ["RBI"], for a period ranging from 10 to 17 years. Their engagements were last extended until 30.09.2025. They have filed this writ petition against a Circular dated 12.03.2025, by which the system of dispensaries owned by RBI, which were being managed by the petitioners, have apparently been done away with. 2.

In the counter affidavit filed by RBI, however, it is inter alia stated as follows:- "7.

It is submitted that the Petition filed by the Petitioners is premature as RBI has not taken any final decision on the continuation of the current form of dispensary setup. In consonance with the same, it is imperative to note that the contract of the Petitioners have been extended till September 30, 2025. It is to be noted that the directions W.P.(C) 8515/2025 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/09/2025 at 11:55:36

mentioned in the Circular dated March 12, 2025 at this point of time are not final in nature. Rather, these steps have been taken to come up with the new model of delivery and distribution of medicine. The Petitioners have filed the present Petition challenging the Circular in apprehension that they will loose their contract without awaiting the final decision of the RBI with respect to the new model of dispensing medicines to the employees. The Petition is premature, the same is notmaintainable and liable to be dismissed." 3.

In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction that, in the event the petitioners' services are to be terminated/discontinued, they will be given at least four weeks' notice. 4.

It is also noted in paragraph 15 of the counter affidavit, that the contracts of all four petitioners would be further extended until 31.03.2026, depending upon their performance. RBI is bound down to the aforesaid statement.

5.

The writ petition, alongwith pending application, stands disposed of.

PRATEEK JALAN, J SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 'pv/KA'/ W.P.(C) 8515/2025 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/09/2025 at 11:55:36