Full Text
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 03rd OCTOBER, 2023 IN THE MATTER OF:
SUBHASHINI RATAN & ORS. ...... Petitioners
Through: Mr. Gautam Narayan, Ms. Asmita Singh, Mr. Harshit Goel and Mr. Siddhant Singh, Advocates.
ORS ...... Respondents
Through: Mr. Santosh Kumar Tripathi, Mr. Pradymn Rao, Mr. Arun Panwar, Mr. Utkarsh Singh, Ms. Prashansa Sharma and Mr. Kartik Sharma, Advocates for R-1.
Mrs. Avnish Ahlawat, Standing Counsel with Ms. Laavanya Kaushik, Mrs. Taniya Ahlawat, Ms. Aliza Alam, Mr. Mohnish Sehrawat and
Mr. Nitesh Kumar Singh, Advocates for R-2 and 3.
Mr. Anupam Srivastava, ASC for GNCTD with Mr. Vasuh Misra, Advocate for R-2 and 3.
Mr. Sudhir Nandrajog, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Vanshay Kaul, Advocate
JUDGMENT
1. This application has been filed by Respondents No.1, 2 & 3 for vacation of interim order dated 21.09.2023 by which this Court had restrained the Respondents from discontinuing the services of the Petitioners herein and had also directed the Respondents to give stipends to the Petitioners.
2. Facts, in brief, leading to the present Writ Petition are that the Delhi Legislative Assembly issued an advertisement for engagement of Fellows, Associate Fellows and Associate Fellows (Media) under the Delhi Assembly Research Centre (DARC) Fellowship Programme. Engagements under the said Programme were initially for a period of one year which could be extended by another year based on the performance of the candidates. The advertisements were issued on 12.02.2019 & 13.02.2019 and they were published in a number of newspapers. It is stated that a proper selection process was undertaken and a total of 50 Fellows and 90 Associate Fellows (including Associate Fellows (Media)) were engaged by the DARC on contractual basis for a period of one year subject to extension by another year based on performance of the Fellows.
3. It is stated that the Fellows were entitled to a fixed stipend and no other benefits or allowances. It is stated that on 11.05.2023 a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court vide its judgement dated 11.05.2023 in C.A. No.2357 of 2017, titled as Government of NCT of Delhi v Union of India, held that the State Government of the NCT has legislative and executive power over “services” under Entry 41, List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
4. It is stated that on 19.05.2023, the President in exercise of powers under Article 123 of the Constitution promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as “the 2023 Ordinance”). The 2023 Ordinance has excluded Entry 41, List II from the subjects over which the Legislative Assembly of the NCT of Delhi can exercise legislative powers by insertion of Section 3A in the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 (hereinafter referred to as “the GNCTD Act”). It is stated that the Government of NCT of Delhi challenged the 2023 Ordinance before the Apex Court by filing a Writ Petition, being W.P.(C) 678/2023. It is stated that on 05.07.2023 a letter was issued by the Services Department, GNCTD directing the dis-engagement of the Fellows and Associate Fellows on the following two grounds: a. that the provisions of reservations for SC/ST/OBC which has been prescribed by the DoPT vide Office Memorandum NO. 27/4/67(II)-Estt.(SCT) dated 24.09.1968 and reiterated vide OM No. 36036/3/2018-Estt.(Res.) dated 15.05.2018 for reservation in temporary appointments lasting for 45 days or more have not been followed in the engagement of Fellows and Associate Fellows. b. that as per Government of India Notification dated 21.05.2015, 'services' is a reserved subject and the Lt. Governor, Delhi is the Competent Authority in service matters related to GNCTD and this position has been reinforced through section 3A, amended section 41(1) and other provisions contained in Part IV-A of the GNCTD Act, 1991, as introduced through the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 and that Delhi Legislative Assembly is not Competent to appoint/engage such manpower without the approval of the Lt. Governor.
5. On 06.07.2023 the Finance Department of GNCTD issued an order restraining Pay and Accounts Officers from releasing the salary of persons engaged as Fellows and Associate Fellows.
6. Material on record discloses that on 07.07.2023 the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has written a letter to the Lt. Governor explaining the terms of engagement of the Fellows by the DARC. In the said letter the Speaker has mentioned that the post of Fellow and Associate Fellow is not a 'civil post' nor is it an 'office' which has been created under Article 309 of the Constitution of India. The Speaker has further stated that the Fellowship Programme does not fall under employment/appointment and, therefore, the question of violating the constitutional provisions of reservations does not arise.
7. By an Order dated 09.08.2023, issued by the Legislative Assembly Secretariat, the engagement of Fellows and Associate Fellows in the DARC was discontinued.
8. The Orders dated 05.07.2023, 06.07.2023 & 09.08.2023, are subject matter of challenge in the present Writ Petition.
9. This Court on 21.09.2023, after noticing the differences in the stand between the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Lt. Governor of Delhi, issued notice in the Writ Petition. Relevant portions of the said Order reads as under: " 4. Learned Counsel for the Petitioners states that both the reasons given by the Respondents are untenable in law. He places reliance on a letter given by the Hon’ble Speaker on 07.07.2023 where the Hon’ble Speaker has stated that both the reasons given for terminating the Petitioners are not applicable to the posts held by the Petitioners herein.
5. In view of the fact that the Hon’ble Speaker had himself raised his objections for termination of the services of the Petitioners and those who are similarly situated, notice is being issued to the Respondents to show cause as to why there is a sudden change in the attitude of Respondent No.1 in agreeing for the termination of the posts of Fellows mid-way during the tenure.
6. Issue notice."
10. This Court had also restrained the Respondents from discontinuing the services of the Petitioners and had also directed that the Petitioners be given their stipends as they have not been paid since 06.07.2023.
11. The instant application has been filed by Respondents No.1, 2 & 3 for vacation of the said order. In the application it is mentioned that the 2023 Ordinance has been challenged in the Apex Court by the Government of NCT of Delhi by filing W.P.(C) 678/2023. It is stated that in the said Writ Petition an application, being I.A. No.13505/2023, was also filed seeking stay of the letter dated 05.07.2023, discontinuing the engagement of Fellows and Associate Fellows in the DARC. It is stated that the Apex Court in its Order dated 20.07.2023 in W.P.(C) 678/2023 has framed two questions, namely,
(i) What are the contours of the power of Parliament to enact a law under Article 239-AA(7); and
(ii) Whether Parliament in the exercise of its power under Article
239- AA(7) can abrogate the constitutional principles of governance for NCTD. and has referred the matter to the Constitution Bench. The Apex Court vide the said Order has dismissed the I.A. No.13505/2023, which was filed seeking stay of the letter dated 05.07.2023 by which the engagement of Fellows and Associate Fellows in the DARC has been discontinued.
12. In the present application it is contended that since the issue is pending before the Apex Court, this Court ought not to have restrained the Respondents from discontinuing the services of the Petitioners herein as Fellows in the DRC as it would amount to stay of the letter dated 05.07.2023, which the Apex Court chose not to interfere with.
13. It is stated by the learned Counsel for the Petitioner that the Order dated 20.07.2023, passed by the Apex Court in W.P.(C) 678/2023 would not be applicable to the Petitioners herein as they are not a party to the proceedings before the Apex Court. He further states that the Petitioners have been engaged as Fellows, Associate Fellows and Associate Fellows (Media) under the Delhi Assembly Research Centre Fellowship Programme and have been deputed in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly being an independent organ was not a party to the proceedings before the Apex Court and, therefore, the Order dated 20.07.2023, passed by the Apex Court in W.P.(C) 678/2023 would not be applicable to the Petitioners herein.
14. It is stated by the learned Counsel appearing for the Legislative Assembly that even though a prayer for staying the letter dated 05.07.2023 has been made in I.A. No.13505/2023 in W.P.(C) 678/2023 before the Apex Court, the Apex Court has only referred the matter to the Constitutional Bench and has not adjudicated on the correctness or otherwise of the letter dated 05.07.2023 and, therefore, technically, letter dated 05.07.2023 has not been considered by the Apex Court in its Order dated 20.07.2023 and, therefore, this Court cannot be prohibited from passing an order restraining the Respondents from discontinuing the services of the Petitioners herein as Fellows in the DRC. Learned Counsel for the Legislative Assembly has taken this Court through the counter affidavit filed by the Union of India before the Apex Court in W.P.(C) 678/2023 and more particularly to paragraphs No.3, 4 & 5 of the counter affidavit to contend that it was the specific stand of the Union of India that the application for stay of the Order letter 05.07.2023 is not connected to the Writ Petition filed before the Apex Court or even to the 2023 Ordinance which is under challenge before the Apex Court. He further states that it was specifically stated that the correctness or otherwise of the letter dated 05.07.2023 do not relate to the 2023 Ordinance and, therefore, the Order dated 21.09.2023, passed by this Court does not warrant any modification. He also contends that the present application is not maintainable as the same has not been filed by the competent authority. He states that the application has been signed by the Deputy Secretary who has not been authorised by the Speaker to file such an application.
15. Per contra, learned Counsel for Respondents No.2 & 3 contends that the correctness or otherwise of the letter dated 05.07.2023 was specifically pleaded in I.A. No.13505/2023 and a prayer to stay the said letter has also been made in the said Application but the Apex Court has dismissed the same and has referred the matter to a Constitution Bench.
16. Heard the Counsels and perused the material on record.
17. Material on record indicates that I.A. No.13505/2023 was filed by the Government of NCT of Delhi in W.P.(C) 678/2023 before the Apex Court. paragraph No.22 of the said application reads as under:
18. The prayer of the I.A. No.13505/2023 reads as under: "a. Stay the impugned Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, pending adjudication of the captioned Petition; and/or b. Stay the letter dated 5.07.2023 bearing No.
F.IO (25)/S-IV/ENGAGEMENT OF FELLOWS/ SPECIALISTS / 2022 / 1038 issued by the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, pending adjudication of the captioned Petition; and/or c. Stay any other consequential orders passed or decisions taken by the Respondents pursuant to the powers conferred by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023; d. Pass any other order or direction that this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and appropriate in the interest of justice."
19. It was specifically argued before the Apex Court that the Lt. Governor has terminated the contract of 437 consultants engaged with statutory bodies under the GNCTD or with the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Paragraph No.6 of the Order dated 20.07.2023, passed by the Apex Court in W.P.(C) 678/2023 reads as under:
20. The genesis of the whole controversy lies in the letter dated 05.07.2023 by which the Lt. Governor has disengaged the Fellows/Associate Fellows of the DCRA. Relevant portion of the letter dated 05.07.2023 reads as under: "3.[3] Cases for which information is available with Services Department, however, the information is not provided by the concerned Department and therefore it is not clear that whether the approval of Hon'ble Lt. Governor, Delhi has been obtained or not: Sr. No. Department/ Organisation Number of persons engaged Monthly Emoluments/ Remuneration per persons
1. Delhi Legislative Assembly 140 (Fellows – 50, Associate Fellows (Media) –90] Fellows – 1,00,000/per Month