Dhanraj Nagar v. Union Of India & ORS.

$~89 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 14595/2025 & CM APPL. 59856/2025 DHANRAJ NAGAR .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. D. Rajeshwar Rao, Ms.

Malaya Kumar Chand, Advocates.

versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr. Himanshu Pathak, SC with Mr. Amit Singh, Mr. Karan Sokhi, Advocates for R-1 and 2.

Mr. Manjit K. Pathak, Advocate for R-3.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

O R D E R

% 25.09.2025 1.

The petitioner filed this writ petition against a show cause notice dated 15.05.2025. Notice was issued by this Court on 22.09.2025 in view of the petitioner's submission that the person who signed the impugned show cause notice as "Director (I/C)" of respondent No. 3 - All India Institute of Ayurveda ["Institute"] had already demitted office as Director on 15.05.2025.

2.

By the same order dated 22.09.2025, respondent No. 3 - Institute was directed to apprise the Court with regard to this position. 3.

Mr. Manjeet Pathak, learned counsel for the Institute, has handed over two documents to the Court which vindicate the petitioner's position. The first is a "Certificate of Transfer of Charge" dated W.P.(C) 14595/2025 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 27/09/2025 at 11:51:51

15.05.2025, signed by Professor Sujata Kadam, the signatory of the impugned show cause notice, as the "Relieved Officer", and by Professor Manjusha Rajagopala as the "Relieving Officer." The certificate refers to an order of the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, dated 14.05.2025.

4.

While the certificate does not clearly state as to whether Professor Kadam was relieved in the forenoon or the afternoon of 15.05.2025, the second document clarifies this aspect. It is a communication dated 15.05.2025, addressed by the Finance Advisor of the Institute to the Ministry of AYUSH, stating that Professor Rajagopala assumed charge of the post of Director of the Institute with effect from the forenoon of 15.05.2025.

5.

In view of the above, the petitioner is right in submitting that the impugned show cause notice has been issued by a person without authority to do so, as Professor Kadam was no longer the Director on the date of issuance of the show cause notice.

6.

The impugned show cause notice is, therefore, set aside. It is made clear that this order will not come in the way of any action proposed to be taken by the Institute in accordance with law. 7.

The petition, alongwith the pending application, is disposed of with these directions.

PRATEEK JALAN, J SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 'Bhupi/JM'/ W.P.(C) 14595/2025 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 27/09/2025 at 11:51:51