Meeta Singh v. Union of India & Anr.

Delhi High Court · 08 Sep 2025 · 2025:DHC:8130-DB
C. Hari Shankar; Om Prakash Shukla
W.P.(C) 13698/2025 and W.P.(C) 13699/2025
2025:DHC:8130-DB
administrative petition_dismissed

AI Summary

Writ petitions challenging resignations tendered over two decades ago were dismissed on grounds of inordinate delay and laches without examining merits, applying principles of constructive res judicata and Order II Rule 2 CPC.

Full Text
Translation output
W.P.(C) 13698/2025 and other connected matter
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
W.P.(C) 13698/2025, CM APPL. 56245/2025
MEETA SINGH .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Vinod Sharma and Mr. Yaduvinder Pal, Advs.
VERSUS
UNION OF INDIA & ANR. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Jagdish Chandra, CGSC and Mr. Sujeet Kumar, Adv.
W.P.(C) 13699/2025, CM APPL. 56247/2025
ASHOK KUMAR .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Vinod Sharma and Mr. Yaduvinder Pal, Advs.
VERSUS
UNION OF INDIA & ANR. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Jagdish Chandra, CGSC Mr. Subodh Kumar Kaushik SPC and Ms. Chhaya Sharma and Mr. Sujeet Kumar, Advs
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA
ORDER(ORAL)
08.09.2025 C. HARI SHANKAR, J
CM APPL. 56246/2025 in WP(C) 13698/2025 ( for exemption)
CM APPL. 56248/2025 in WP(C) 13699/2025 (for exemption)
JUDGMENT

1. Exemption allowed subject to all just exceptions.

2. The applications stand disposed of. W.P.(C) 13698/2025 and W.P.(C) 13699/2025

3. These writ petitions pray that a resignation tendered by the petitioners on 30 September 2004 in WP (C) 13698/2025 and on 14 March 2000 in WP (C) 13699/2025 be treated as not having been voluntarily tendered and the petitioners be permitted to rejoin service with attended benefits.

4. There is no explanation whatsoever for the inordinate delay of over two decades in approaching this Court.

5. In fact, further, the petitioner in WP (C) 13698/2025 has earlier approached this Court by way of WP (C) 11501/2016 seeking pensionary benefits.

6. Even at that stage, no grievance was raised with respect to the resignation tendered by the petitioner in 2004.

7. In the case of the petitioner in WP(C) 13698/2025, therefore, the considerations of constructive res judicata and Order II Rule 2 of the CPC would also come into play.

8. In such circumstances, we are not in a position to examine these writ petitions on merits.

9. The writ petitions are accordingly dismissed on the ground of delay and laches without examining them on merits.

C. HARI SHANKAR, J.

OM PRAKASH SHUKLA, J. SEPTEMBER 8, 2025