Delhi High Court - Orders
Harit Setia vs National Pension System Trust (Nps ... on 17 February, 2026
Author: Sanjeev Narula
Bench: Sanjeev Narula
$~80
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(C) 2272/2026
HARIT SETIA .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Vineet Tayal, Ms. Nishtha
Wadhwa, Mr. Nilesh Deep and Mr.
Jitendra Kumar Singh, Advocates.
versus
NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM TRUST (NPS TRUST) & ORS.
.....Respondents
Through: Mr. Ajit Sinha, Senior Advocate with
Mr. Dattatray Vyas and Mr.
Sanindhya Sonthalia, Advocates for
R-1 with Mr. Sameer Raheja, AR
with Mr. Anirudh Thakur, AR.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA
ORDER
% 17.02.2026 CM APPL. 10968/2026 (seeking exemption from filing true typed copies of annexures)
1. Exemption is granted, subject to all just exceptions.
2. The Applicant shall file legible and clearer copies of exempted documents, compliant with practice rules, before the next date of hearing.
3. Accordingly, the application stands disposed of. CM APPL. 10967/2026 (seeking stay)
4. The Petitioner has raised a grievance with respect to the constitution of the Committee proposed to conduct interviews under the Promotion Committee, contending that the Chief Executive Officer, who is to be a member thereof, is a person against whom the Petitioner has levelled 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 18/02/2026 at 20:37:37 allegations, giving rise to an apprehension of bias.
5. Mr. Ajit Sinha, Senior Counsel appearing for Respondent No. 1, on instructions and without prejudice to his rights and contentions, states that, while the allegations of the Petitioner are denied, however, in order to allay the apprehension of the Petitioner, the Chief Executive Officer shall not be part of the "Promotion Committee" insofar as the Petitioner is concerned.
6. It is further directed that the Petitioner's participation in the selection process shall be without prejudice to his rights and contentions. Any promotion granted shall remain subject to the outcome of the present proceedings. This, however, shall not preclude the Respondents from publishing the result.
7. With the above directions, the application is disposed of. W.P.(C) 2272/2026
8. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India challenges
(i) the rejection of the Petitioner's representations communicated vide email dated 11th February, 2026, (ii) the proposed promotion process from Grade D to Grade E, and (iii) the remarks/marking recorded in the Petitioner's APARs for the period 01st January, 2024 to 31st March, 2024 and the year ending March 2025. The Petitioner also seeks consequential directions for consideration of his candidature for promotion in terms of the applicable policy as of May 2024 and through a Committee not comprising the concerned reviewing officers.
9. Issue notice. Mr. Sanindhya Sonthalia, counsel for Respondent No. 1, accepts notice.
10. Counter affidavit be filed within a period of six weeks from today. Rejoinder thereto, if any, be filed within a period of four weeks thereafter.
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 18/02/2026 at 20:37:37
11. Issue notice to Respondents No. 2 & 3, by all permissible modes, upon filing of process fee, returnable on the next date of hearing.
12. Re-notify on 8th July, 2026.
SANJEEV NARULA, J FEBRUARY 17, 2026/as 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 18/02/2026 at 20:37:37