Usha Anand v. Union of India and Others
Administrative Tribunal – Judicial review of Tribunal order – Duty to give reasons
Case brief
What is this about?
Usha Anand v. Union of India, High Court of Delhi, W.P.(C) 11139/2021, decided 19.05.2026 by C. Hari Shankar, J. (author) and Om Prakash Shukla, J. CAT order dated 08.08.2019 in OA 3127/2014 and OA 507/2016 quashed and set aside as unreasoned/non-speaking for failure to address merits of contentions; OAs remanded de novo; principle that application of mind must be reflected in Tribunal's order; expedition directions (hearing on 03.07.2026, no adjournment, four-page written submissions, disposal within three months); differently abled woman employee over 70; background punishments: reduction of grade pay by three years (order dated 07.05.2013) and compulsory retirement (order dated 16.03.2015) following two charge sheets alleging misbehaviour with colleagues; no opinion on merits; Tribunal to proceed uninfluenced.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition allowed: impugned Tribunal order dated 8 August 2019 quashed and set aside as unreasoned; OA 3127/2014 and OA 507/2016 remanded to the Tribunal for reconsideration de novo with all contentions open; parties to appear before the Tribunal on 3 July 2026 (no adjournments); brief written submissions (max four pages per side) to be exchanged at least a week before hearing; Tribunal requested to decide preferably within three months of hearing and to proceed uninfluenced by the quashed order; no opinion expressed on the merits of the OAs.