Gajender Singh & ORS. v. Lt. Governor & ORS.

$~7 to 11 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 5364/2018 & CM APPL. 27108/2019 ASHOK KUMAR AND ORS.

.....Petitioners versus LT. GOVERNOR THROUGH CHIEF SECRETARY DELHI AND ORS.

.....Respondents + W.P.(C) 12600/2018, CM APPL. 48968/2018, 31525/2019, 4959/2020 & 4961/2020 MOHIT JAGLAN AND ORS.

.....Petitioners versus LT. GOVERNOR THROUGH CHIEF SECRETARY DELHI AND ORS.

.....Respondents + W.P.(C) 6754/2018 GAJENDER SINGH & ORS.

.....Petitioner versus LT. GOVERNOR & ORS.

.....Respondent + W.P.(C) 6871/2018, CM APPL. 26083/2018, 26808/2019 & 27646/2019 SHAILENDRA SINGH & ORS.

.....Petitioners versus LT. GOVERNOR THROUGH CHIEF SECRETARY DELHI & ORS.

.....Respondents + W.P.(C) 7175/2018, CM APPL. 27356/2018, 27130/2019 & W.P.(C) 5364/2018 and connected matters Page 1 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

CRL.M.A. 12389/2019 GARIMA THAKUR AND ORS.

.....Petitioners versus LT. GOVERNOR THROUGH CHIEF SECRETARY DELHI AND ORS.

.....Respondents Appearance:

Mr. Shanmuga Patro and Mr. Tarun Kumar, Advocates for petitioners. Mrs. Avnish Ahlawat, SC for GNCTD with Mr. Nitesh Kumar Singh, Ms. Aliza Alam and Mr. Mohnish Sehrawat, Advocates.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

O R D E R

% 16.10.2025 1.

These petitions have been filed by guest teachers engaged by the Directorate of Education ["DoE"], Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi ["GNCTD"]. Effectively the petitioners seek regularisation in the services of GNCTD.

2.

A preliminary objection was raised by DoE in its counter affidavit that the disputes sought to be agitated by the petitioners are amenable to the jurisdiction of the Central Administrative Tribunal ["CAT"], and the petitioners should be relegated to that remedy in view of the seven-Judge Bench decision of the Supreme Court in L. Chandra Kumar v. UOI [(1997) 3 SCC 261].

3.

Mr. Shanmuga Patro, learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that other petitions by guest teachers on similar questions, including W.P.(C) 8260/2020, W.P.(C) 5481/2018, and W.P.(C) 12615/2018 have been withdrawn with liberty to approach CAT. He seeks similar orders in W.P.(C) 5364/2018 and connected matters Page 2 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

the present cases.

4.

With the consent of learned counsel for the parties, the writ petitions are disposed of with the following directions: a. The petitioners will be at liberty to approach CAT within a period of six weeks from today.

b. Alongwith the applications filed before CAT, the petitioners may annex the pleadings filed in these writ petitions, and the orders of the Court. CAT may take a call as to whether further pleadings are required to be filed or the cases can be heard on the basis of the pleadings filed before this Court.

c. Any interim orders passed in these petitions will continue to bind the parties for a period of eight weeks from today or until the CAT passes any further orders in this regard.

d. It is made clear that the CAT is at liberty to continue, vacate, or modify the interim orders in accordance with law. e. The parties may request CAT for an expeditious consideration of the petitions, if possible, having regard to the Board of the CAT. 5.

All pending applications also stand disposed of. PRATEEK JALAN, J OCTOBER 16, 2025 SS/JM/ W.P.(C) 5364/2018 and connected matters Page 3 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.