Disposed¶20

Madhulika Pathak v. Union of India & Ors.

Delhi HC23 Mar 2026W.P.(C)/3680/2026

Case brief

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What is this about?

Madhulika Pathak v. Union of India & Ors.; W.P.(C) 3680/2026 with CM APPL. 17956/2026, CM APPL. 17957/2026; High Court of Delhi; order dated 23.03.2026; Justice Jasmeet Singh; Article 226 Constitution of India; special stray vacancy round of counselling; seats vacant after non-reporting in regular stray round; consideration per extant rules if round held; petition disposed with directions.

What did the court decide?

Conditional direction: if a special stray round is held in the near future, the petitioner's case shall be considered per extant rules and, if found eligible, she shall be permitted to participate; liberty preserved to take appropriate steps if a cause of action arises in future. ¶20

Madhulika Pathak Vs Union of India & Ors. — Writ and Judicial Review | Delhi HC (2026)

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$~72

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- W.P.(C) 3680/2026 & CM APPL. 17956/2026, CM APPL. 17957/2026

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MADHULIKA PATHAK

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.....Petitioner Through: Mr. Avijit Patnaik, Mr. Shreyan Das, Ms. Shuvra Mohapatra, Advs.

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versus

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UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

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.....Respondent Through: Mr. Balendu Shekhar, CGSC for R-1&2

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH

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O R D E R % 23.03.2026

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This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following prayers:-

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“a. A writ of Mandamus and/or order and/or direction in the nature of Mandamus or any other writ and or appropriate order thereby directing the Respondent No. 2 to allow the Petitioner to participate in the ‘special stray vacancy round of counselling’ which is proposed to be conducted for the remaining seats left vacant after non-reporting in the regular stray round;…”

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Mr. Patnaik, learned counsel for the petitioner, states that the petitioner

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 27/03/2026 at 13:06:07

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seeks to participate in special stray round, if the same is held by the respondents.

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Mr. Shekhar, learned CGSC for the respondent Nos. 1 and 2, on instructions states that as of today, there is no special stray round being contemplated.

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However, if there is any special stray round in the near future, the case of the petitioners shall be considered in accordance with extant rules and if found eligible, the petitioners shall be permitted to participate in the same.

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In case any cause of action arises in future, the petitioner shall be entitled to take appropriate steps.

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With these directions, the petition is disposed of.

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JASMEET SINGH, J

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MARCH 23, 2026/sp

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 27/03/2026 at 13:06:07

Madhulika Pathak v. Union of India & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Madhulika Pathak v. Union of India & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

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What the court decided

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