Union of India v. Dilip Tigga
Case brief
What is this about?
High Court of Chhattisgarh, Bilaspur (Rajani Dubey & Amitendra Kishore Prasad JJ., order per Amitendra Kishore Prasad J., decided 05.12.2025) disposes 51 writ petitions (lead WPS No. 6291 of 2024) by Union of India/SECR Railway against CAT Jabalpur common order 06.03.2024 (O.A. 203/12/2019 + 49 OAs) on SECR Employment Notice 02/2010 Group 'D' 20% replacement-panel appointments; writs dismissed, CAT order upheld with vacancy-audit and merit-order consideration directions under RBE No. 73/2008. Key terms: delay and laches, Section 21(1) Administrative Tribunals Act, two-year panel currency, fence-sitters, vigilantibus non dormientibus, Dinesh Kumar Kashyap Civil Appeals 11360-63/2018, WPC 779/2021 Yogendra Kumar Ram, suppression/res judicata, CEN 02/2018, RRC-01/2019, RTI 577 vacancies Raipur Division, Articles 14, 16, 226.
What did the court decide?
All writ petitions by Union of India/Railways (WPS No. 6291 of 2024 and 50 connected matters) dismissed without costs; CAT Jabalpur common order dated 06.03.2024 upheld to the extent it directs administrative examination of the vacancy position under Employment Notice No. SECR/02/2010 and consequent consideration of eligible replacement/wait-list candidates. Directions issued: focused vacancy audit by an officer not below DRM rank, preferably within four months, with written report; merit-order consideration of eligible replacement-list candidates subject to antecedent, medical and document verification; posts lawfully absorbed in CEN 02/2018/RRC-01/2019 deemed unavailable; claims tainted by suppression or mala fides may be rejected after fair hearing with recorded reasons; CAT/judicial review remains open; each party to bear its own costs.