Disposed

Narinder Kumar v. Punjabi Academy & Ors.

Delhi HC21 Jan 2026W.P.(C)/644/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Part-time Punjabi teachers sought parity of pay benefits with petitioners in a prior writ against the Punjabi Academy and objected to fresh undertakings. The court extended the earlier judgment's directions to them, subject to a pending LPA, clarifying undertakings cannot dilute those directions, and disposed of the petitions.

What did the court decide?

Petitioners entitled to same reliefs as Avtar Singh; undertaking cannot dilute those directions; subject to pending LPA outcome.

Narinder Kumar Vs Punjabi Academy & Ors. — Service and Employment | Delhi HC (2026)

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$~5 to 11

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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W.P.(C) 582/2026 LALITA RANI .....Petitioner

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versus

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PUNJABI ACADEMY & ORS. .....Respondents

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With

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W.P.(C) 641/2026, W.P.(C) 642/2026, W.P.(C) 643/2026, W.P.(C) 644/2026, W.P.(C) 645/2026 & W.P.(C) 650/2026.

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For Petitioner:

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For Respondents: Mrs. Avnish Ahlawat, SC, GNCTD with Mr. Manish Gusai, Ms. Aliza Alam & Mr. Mohnish Sehrawat, Advocates for R-1 & R-2. Dr. Divya Swamy, SC with Mr. Yagyawalkya Singh, Mr. Anubhav Agrawal, Mr. Rishav Ranjan, Ms. Nidhi Kumar, Ms. Akriti Singh, Ms. Ananya & Mr. Sikhar, Advocates for MCD.

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CORAM:

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA

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O R D E R % 21.01.2026

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The Petitioners submit that they were engaged as part-time teachers for teaching Punjabi and have been continuously working for over 15 years. They claim parity with similarly situated petitioners who had approached this Court in W.P.(C) 3675/2017 and connected matters, and seek appropriate directions in that regard.

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It is also pointed out that the Punjabi Academy has now started insisting upon an undertaking for the academic year 2025–26, and that

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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 27/01/2026 at 12:38:58

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furnishing such undertaking may prejudice the Petitioners’ entitlement to the benefits already extended by this Court to similarly placed petitioners in ‘Avtar Singh & Ors. v. Punjabi Academy & Ors.’ .¹ Accordingly, a prayer is also made that the Respondents be restrained from insisting on the undertaking referred to in paragraph 12 of the petition.

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The Court has heard the counsel for the parties. It is not in dispute that the Petitioners are similarly situated to the petitioners in Avtar Singh & Ors . , wherein this Court has already directed the Respondents to refix the salaries of the petitioners.

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The Court is informed that the aforesaid judgment is under challenge in LPA 29/2026 , wherein notice has been issued on the application seeking condonation of delay.

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In view of the above, the present writ petition is disposed of in terms of the direction issued in Avtar Singh & Ors. The Petitioners shall be entitle to similar reliefs. Since the said judgment is pending challenge in appeal, the directions herein shall remain subject to the outcome of the pending LPA. It is further clarified that any undertaking sought to be obtained from the Petitioners by the Respondents shall not dilute the directions issued by this Court in Avtar Singh & Ors . , which stand extended to the present Petitioners.

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With the above directions, the present petitions are disposed of.

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SANJEEV NARULA, J

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JANUARY 21, 2026/ hc

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1 2025: DHC : 5596.

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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 27/01/2026 at 12:38:58

Narinder Kumar v. Punjabi Academy & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Narinder Kumar v. Punjabi Academy & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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