Garima Singh & Ors. Vs Union of India & Anr. — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Garima Singh & Ors. Vs Union of India & Anr. — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petition disposed of on the terms that the petitioners may make a representation ventilating their grievance to the Hon'ble President of GSTAT, who was requested to consider it and take an appropriate decision, if possible, with expedition.

Issue for consideration

Whether the office order dated 30.06.2025 of the Hon'ble President of GSTAT, prescribing different dress codes for the Hon'ble President/Hon'ble Members (Judicial) on the one hand and the Hon'ble Technical Members on the other, creates an anomalous situation within the Tribunal warranting redress.

Court's answer

The Court held that the grievance regarding the differential dress code within GSTAT can better be addressed by the Hon'ble President of the GSTAT, and accordingly permitted the petitioners to approach the Hon'ble President by way of making a representation for ventilation of their grievances.

Key takeaways

The Court requested the Hon'ble President of the GSTAT to consider any representation made by the petitioners and to take an appropriate decision, if possible, with expedition.obiter¶16

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Public interest litigation filed by practising lawyers (Garima Singh & Ors.) raising a grievance against a GSTAT office order dated 30.06.2025, embodying the order of the Hon'ble President of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal, which prescribes two different dress codes - the same dress as Supreme Court/High Court Judges (without gown) for the Hon'ble President and Hon'ble Members (Judicial), and white/striped/black trousers with black coat, white shirt and black necktie or buttoned-up black coat for the Hon'ble Technical Members - which the petitioners considered anomalous among Members of the same Tribunal. The Delhi High Court (Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia) did not adjudicate the merits of the differential dress code; holding that the issue can better be addressed by the Hon'ble President of the GSTAT, it disposed of the petition, permitting the petitioners to make a representation to the Hon'ble President and requesting consideration and an appropriate decision, if possible, with expedition.

$~52

IN THEHIGH COURTOF DELHIAT NEW DELHI

- W.P.(C) 4217/2026, CM APPL. 20555/2026, CM APPL. 20556/2026, CM APPL. 20557/2026&CM APPL. 20558/2026

GARIMA SINGH & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Tushar Ranjan Mohanty, Mr. Vishal Sharma, Advs. with the petitioners in person

versus

UNION OF INDIA & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Radhika Bishwajit Dubey, CGSC with Ms. Rupali Sinha, GP, Ms. Gurleen Kaur Waraich, Mr. Kritarth Upadhyay and Mr. Amulya Dev Mishra, Advs.

CORAM:

HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA

O R D E R

% 01.04.2026

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

This public interest litigation petition has been filed by practicing lawyers raising the grievance in relation to office order dated 30.06.2025 which embodies the order of Hon‟ble President of Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT). According to the petitioner the said office order prescribes two different dress codes, one to be observed by Hon‟ble President and Hon‟ble Members, Judicial and the other to be observed by Hon‟ble Technical Members. As per the Office Order, Hon‟ble President

This is a digitally signed order.

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 06/04/2026 at 11:37:55

and Hon‟ble Members, Judicial are to don the same dress which is prescribed for Judges of Hon‟ble Supreme Court or Hon‟ble High Court without gown whereas the Technical Members are required to wear white or striped or black trousers with black coat over white shirt and black necktie or buttoned up black coat. According to the petitioner, difference in the dress codes between two Members of the same Tribunal creates an anomalous situation, while the Members hold their proceedings in the respective Benches.

In our opinion, such an issue can better be addressed by Hon‟ble President of the GSTAT. Accordingly, we permit the petitioners to approach the Hon‟ble President of the said Tribunal by way of making a representation for ventilation of their grievances. If any such representation is made by the petitioners, we request the Hon‟ble President of the said Tribunal to consider the same and take appropriate decision, if possible, with expedition.

The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ

TEJAS KARIA, J

APRIL 1, 2026 N.Khanna

This is a digitally signed order.

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 06/04/2026 at 11:37:55