Ritu Sood And ORS. v. Union Of India And ORS.

$~ 8 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 5886/2018 RITU SOOD AND ORS.

.....Petitioners Through:

Appearance not given.

versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr. Rakesh Kumar, SPC with Mr.

Sunil, Advocate for UOI.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA

O R D E R

% 04.02.2026 1.

The instant petition was being heard along with a connected matter, W.P.(C) 9548/2017, titled Dr. Ashutosh Dev Kaushik v. Union of India and Anr. The said petition has since been disposed of by this Court by an order dated 23rd September, 2024.

2.

The Petitioners submit that they are similarly situated to the petitioner in W.P.(C) 9548/2017 and seek the benefit of the directions issued by this Court in the aforesaid order.

3.

It is a common ground of parties that the only distinction between the present Petitioners and Dr. Ashutosh Dev Kaushik is that Dr. Ashutosh Dev Kaushik had not given his consent for absorption in NIDM pursuant to the notice dated 11th September, 2017, whereas the present Petitioners had given such consent. In the aforesaid order dated 23rd September, 2024, this Court examined the relevant aspects of the matter and disposed of the writ petition 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 05/02/2026 at 12:45:43

without entering into the merits, while directing NIDM to consider whether the petitioner therein was entitled to count past service from the date of initial appointment for the purposes of regularisation and consequential benefits, including promotion and pension.

4.

Since the Petitioners herein are similarly placed, the issue regarding the effect of their having given consent can also be considered by the competent authority while taking a decision, in terms of the directions issued by this Court on 23rd September, 2024.

5.

Accordingly, the present petition is disposed of in terms of the order dated 23rd September, 2024 passed in W.P.(C) 9548/2017. The Respondents shall pass a reasoned decision in accordance with the said order within a period of three months from today.

6.

Needless to say, the Petitioners shall be at liberty to avail appropriate legal remedies, if so advised, in the event the decision of the competent authority does not address their grievances.

7.

The petition is disposed of along with all pending applications. SANJEEV NARULA, J FEBRUARY 4, 2026 as 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 05/02/2026 at 12:45:43