Laksmi Kumari and Ors. Vs Union of India — Contempt of Court | Delhi HC (2026)

Laksmi Kumari and Ors. Vs Union of India — Contempt of Court | Delhi HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Exemption application CM APPL.5962/2026 allowed subject to all just exceptions; respondent Union of India directed to verify the documents and release the retiral and pensionary benefits of late Vijay Kumar within four weeks; concerned Deputy Commissioner (Administration) to provide an audience to the petitioner within one week and ensure compliance; petition disposed of in the above terms.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent (Union of India) engaged in wilful and deliberate non-compliance of the judgment/order dated 21.04.2025 in W.P.(C) 3548/2025 directing release of the retiral and pensionary benefits of late Vijay Kumar to the petitioner. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

With the requisite documents already supplied to the respondent and enclosed with the petition, there appears no impediment in release of the requisite retiral and pensionary benefits to the petitioner.

Key takeaways

The respondent is directed to verify the documents and release the retiral and pensionary benefits as expeditiously as possible, and in any event within four weeks from the date of this order.ratio¶7
The concerned Deputy Commissioner (Administration), who had addressed the communication dated 09.09.2025 (Annexure-P2), shall provide an audience to the petitioner within one week and ensure that the above directions are complied with.ratio¶8

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt petition (CONT.CAS(C) 163/2026, Delhi High Court, Sachin Datta, J., order dated 29.01.2026) filed by Laksmi Kumari and Ors. against Union of India, alleging wilful and deliberate non-compliance of the judgment/order dated 21.04.2025 in W.P.(C) 3548/2025, whereby respondent no.1 was directed to release the retiral and pensionary benefits of late Vijay Kumar. Counsel for the respondent stated on advance notice that upon provision of documents sought vide Annexure-P2 (letter dated 09.09.2025) the requisite pension would be released forthwith; counsel for the petitioner submitted the documents had already been supplied and enclosed with the petition. Finding no impediment to release, the Court directed the respondent to verify the documents and release the benefits within four weeks, and required the concerned Deputy Commissioner (Administration) to give the petitioner an audience within one week and ensure compliance. Petition disposed of in the above terms; exemption application CM APPL.5962/2026 allowed subject to just exceptions.

$~85

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

- CONT.CAS(C) 163/2026

LAKSMI KUMARI AND ORS .....Petitioners Through: Ms. Shambhavi Singh, Ms. Simran Chaudhary, Mr. Dushyant Sejwal, Advs. along with petitioner nos.3 and 4 in person.

versus

UNION OF INDIA .....Respondent Through: Mr. Farman Ali, CGSC, Ms. Usha Jamnal and Mr. Devender Singh, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA

O R D E R

% 29.01.2026

CM APPL.5962/2026 (Exemption)

Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

Application stands disposed of.

CONT.CAS(C) 163/2026

The present petition alleges wilful and deliberate non-compliance of the judgment / order dated 21.04.2025, passed by this Court in W.P.(C) 3548/2025 whereby the respondent no.1 was directed to release the retiral and pensionary benefits of late Vijay Kumar in favour of the petitioner.

During the course of hearing, learned counsel for the respondent, who appears on advance notice submits that upon the petitioner providing the documents, as sought vide Annexure-P2 (letter dated 09.09.2025, addressed by the respondent to the petitioner), the requisite pension shall be released forthwith.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the requisite

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 03/02/2026 at 12:19:50

documents have already been supplied to the respondent and they have also been enclosed along with the present petition itself.

In the circumstances, there appears no impediment in release of the requisite retiral and pensionary benefits to the petitioner.

Let the respondent verify the documents and release the said benefits as expeditiously as possible and in any event within a period of four weeks from today.

The concerned Deputy Commissioner (Administration), who had addressed the aforesaid communication dated 09.09.2025 (Annexure-P2) shall provide an audience to the petitioner within a period of one week and ensure that the above directions are complied with.

The petition is disposed of in the above terms.

SACHIN DATTA, J

JANUARY 29, 2026/ cl

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 03/02/2026 at 12:19:50