Municipal Corporation Of Delhi Trough Its Commissioner v. Bhupender Pal And ORS.

$~5 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + LPA 724/2025, CM APPL. 75349/2025 & CM APPL. 75350/2025 MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI TROUGH ITS COMMISSIONER .....Appellant Through:

Mr.Anand Prakash, SC for MCD with Ms.Varsha Arya and Mr.Darsh Bansal, Advs.

versus BHUPENDER PAL AND ORS.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr.Jawahar Raja, Mr.Ishaan Goel, and Mr.Nitai Hinduja, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA

O R D E R

% 10.03.2026 CM APPL. 75351/2025 (Delay) 1.

The present application has been filed on behalf of the appellant-MCD seeking condonation of delay of 301 days in filing the instant appeal. 2.

Having heard the learned counsel for the appellant-MCD and perused the averments made in the present application, the same stands allowed and the delay of 301 days in filing the instant appeal is hereby condoned. 3.

The application stands disposed of.

LPA 724/2025, CM APPL. 75349/2025 & CM APPL. 75350/2025 4.

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

5.

This Letters Patent Appeal seeks to challenge an interlocutory order dated 16.12.2024 whereby, the appellant-MCD has been directed to make a payment of Rs.20,000/- to each of the respondents/workmen towards litigation expenses.

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 13/03/2026 at 13:14:07

6.

The proceedings of the writ petition have been instituted by the appellant-MCD against an award dated 21.07.2023, declared by the Industrial Tribunal whereby, the respondents/workmen have been held to be entitled for regularisation in service on the post of Assistant Pump Driver. A direction has also been issued to regularise their services with effect from 01.04.2006 in regular pay scale.

7.

The submission of the learned counsel for the appellant-MCD is that the respondents/workmen were Seasonal Employees and, therefore, the Learned Tribunal has erred in arriving at the finding that they are entitled to the regularisation.

8.

Be that as it may, the merit of the respective claim of the parties is yet to be considered by the learned Single Judge.

9.

By the order impugned herein, the learned Single Judge has only directed the appellant-MCD to pay a sum of Rs.20,000/- to each of the respondents/workmen towards litigation expenses. 10.

Having regard to the fact that the respondents/workmen are not in employment since long and also taking into consideration the fact that the order under challenge is an order which is interlocutory in nature, we are not inclined to interfere in this appeal, which is hereby dismissed. 11.

We, however, request the learned Single Judge to expedite the proceedings of the writ petition along with the miscellaneous applications, if any, and conclude the same, if possible, within a period of three months. DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ TEJAS KARIA, J MARCH 10, 2026/MJ 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 13/03/2026 at 13:14:07