Gita Rani And ORS v. Punjabi Academy Through Its Secretary & ORS.

$~67, 1 & 2 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 13764/2025 & CM APPL. 56435/2025 GITA RANI AND ORS.

.....Petitioners versus PUNJABI ACADEMY THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ORS.

.....Respondents + W.P.(C) 7760/2025 JOGINDER KAUR .....Petitioner versus PUNJABI ACADEMY & ORS.

.....Respondents + W.P.(C) 7963/2025 JOGINDER KAUR .....Petitioner versus PUNJABI ACADEMY & ORS.

.....Respondents Appearance:- Mr. Bharat Bhushan Bhatia, Mr. Mratyunjay Singh & Mr. Mohd. Javed, Advocates for Petitioners in Item Nos. 67, 1 & 2.

Mrs. Avnish Ahlawat, Standing Counsel for GNCTD with Mr. N.K. Singh, Ms. Aliza Alam & Mr.

Mohnish, Advocates for R-1 & 2 in Item Nos. 67, 1 & 2.

Dr. Divya Swamy, Standing Counsel for MCD with Mr. Yash Jain, Ms. Nidhi Kumar & Mr. Amol Rana, Advocates for R-3 in Item Nos. 67, 1 & 2.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

O R D E R

% 09.09.2025 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

1.

Issue notice. Mrs. Avnish Ahlawat, learned Standing Counsel, accepts notice on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 and 2. Dr. Divya Swamy, learned Standing Counsel, accepts notice on behalf of respondent No. 3 - Municipal Corporation of Delhi ["MCD"].

2.

The petitioners are retired part-time teachers of Punjabi in MCD Primary Schools in Delhi. They seek arrears of salary with interest, claiming parity with the petitioners before this Court in Avtar Singh v. Punjabi Academy & Anr. [W.P.(C) 3675/2017 and other connected matters, decided on 15.07.2025] [hereinafter, "Avtar Singh"]. Similar claims by other Punjabi teachers were decided in the said writ petition. 3.

After the judgment in Avtar Singh, a writ petition [W.P.(C) 11452/2025: Manjit Kaur vs. Punjabi Academy and Ors.] was filed by another similarly placed individual, in which this Court passed the following order:- "2. The petitioner was a teacher of Punjabi in an MCD Primary School. She seeks payment of arrears of salary and gratuity in terms of the judgment of this Court in the case of other similarly placed teachers. In support of the petition, Mr. Bharat Bhushan Bhatia, learned counsel for the petitioner, cites the judgment of a Coordinate Bench in Avtar Singh v. Punjabi Academy & Anr. [W.P.(C) 3675/2017 and other connected matters, decided on 15.07.2025] [hereinafter, "Avtar Singh"].

3.

Ms. Aliza Alam, learned counsel for Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi ["GNCTD"] and Dr. Swamy, submit that the judgment of Avtar Singh has been rendered less than one month ago, and the Authorities are still considering the steps to be taken with regard to the said judgment. However, they submit that the petitioner will be treated in the same way as other similarly placed petitioners in Avtar Singh.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

4.

Mr. Bhatia states that the petitioner would be satisfied with an assurance of this nature."

4.

Mr. Bharat Bhushan Bhatia, learned counsel for the petitioners in the present petitions, seeks a similar order. 5.

Mrs. Ahlawat submits that the respondents do not, in principle, object to such an order, but request that the petitioners' claim for interest be kept open, as the petitioners have approached the Court long after their retirement, whereas in Avtar Singh, most of the petitioners were still working.

6.

The writ petitions are disposed of with a direction that the petitioners would also be entitled to the benefits conferred by the judgment in Avtar Singh, except with regard to interest. As far as interest is concerned, the respondents may take a considered decision on the period for which the petitioners would be entitled to interest, if any, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case. The rights and remedies of the petitioner remain reserved in this respect. 7.

Mr. Bhatia submits that the petitioners are also agreeable to an order in these terms.

8.

The writ petitions, alongwith pending application, stand disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

PRATEEK JALAN, J SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 'pv/KA'/ The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.