Central Administrative Tribunal - Srinagar
Hilal Ahmad vs Home Department on 17 February, 2026
ITEM 7 1 OA 814 OF 2023
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
SRINAGAR BENCH, SRINAGAR
O.A. 814/2023
Date of Order: 17th February, 2026
CORAM
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RITU TAGORE, MEMBER(JUDL.)
HILAL AHMAD
S/O ALI MOHD CHOPAN
R/O SOUNIM KUNZER BARAMULLA
ARP-106322
JAVID AHMAD
S/O ABDUL SAMAD MIR
R/O PETHMAKNAMA MAGAM BUDGAM
PID/ARP No. 107807
NASEER AHMAD
S/O MOHD ASHRAF DAR
R/O RATHSUN BEERWA BUDGAM
PID/ARP No. 108762
NAYEEM NAZIR
S/O NAZIR AHMAD PARRAY
R/O RAKHIE AHSAM SONAWARI BANDIPORA
PID/ARP No. 105760
MOHD SHAID UL ISLAM
S/O WALI MOHD DAR
R/O GAMROO BANDIPORA
PID/ARP No. 106289
GULAM MOHAMAD SHAH
S/O HABIBULLA SHAH
R/O NADIHAL BANDIPORA
PID No. 106398
ASHFAQ AHMAD
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU,
Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806,
PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN=
Tripathi
Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30'
ITEM 7 2 OA 814 OF 2023
S/O GHULAM AHMAD DAR
R/O GAMROO BANDIPORA
PID No. 105893
MEHRAJ-U-DIN SOFI
S/O ALI MOHD SOFI
R/O ROHAMA RAFIABAD BARAMULLA
PID No. 106328
BASHIR AHMAD MIR
S/O RAFIQ AHMAD MIR
R/O MAGAM HANDWARA KUPWARA
PID No. 107908
ABDUL AHAD WANI
S/O GH QADIR WANI
R/O ZAB GEERIPORA KUPWARA
PID No. 109760
PARVAIZ AHMAD LONE
S/O ABDUL KHALIQ LONE
R/O DARIL PAYEEN KUPWARA
PID No. 108347
MAHNAZ AHMAD BHAT
S/O GH QADIR BHAT
R/O BAKHI PORA RAFIABAD BARAMULLA
PID No. 107802
SHABIR AHMAD WAR
S/O MOHD SABIR WAR
R/O ROHAMA RAFIABAD BARAMULLA
PID No. 106549
TAWSEEF AHMAD WANI
S/O GHULAM NABI WANI
R/O DACHIGAM BANDIPORA
PID No. 106848
SHOWKAT AHMAD DAR
S/O GH MOHD DAR
R/O DUROO SOPORE BARAMULLA
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU,
Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806,
PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN=
Tripathi
Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30'
ITEM 7 3 OA 814 OF 2023
PID No. 106320
SHOWKAT AHMAD
S/O MOHD RAMZAN CHOPAN
R/O KUNZER BARAMULLA
PID No. 106319
MOHD IRFAN LONE
S/O GH MOHD LONE
R/O YEMBERZALWARI SOPORE BARAMULLA
PID No. 107227
MEHRAJ-UD-DIN LONE
S/O GH NABI LONE
R/O TUJAR SHARIEF ZANGEER BARAMULLA
PID No. 106326
BILAL AHMAD
S/O MOHD SULTAN BHAT
R/O SHEERI BARAMULLA
PID No. 105744
HILAL AHMAD BHAT
S/O GH MOHD BHAT
R/O SARIWARPORA PATTAN BARAMULLA
PID No. 106327
GH MOHIUDDIN GANIE
S/O MOHD SIDIQ GANIE
R/O HAFROO CHADOORA BUDGAM
PID No. 108024
HAFIZULLAH SHEIKH
S/O MOHD SUBHAN SHEIKH
R/O LALPORA KUNZER BARAMULLA
PID No. 106330
MOHAMAD IQBAL BHAT
S/O GH RASOOL BHAT
R/O LAKHRIPORA BUDGAM
PID No. 106929
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU,
Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806,
PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN=
Tripathi
Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30'
ITEM 7 4 OA 814 OF 2023
HUSSAIN MOHAMMAD IRSHAD
S/O GHULAM HASSAN BHAT
R/O WADWAN BUDGAM
PID No. 107795
KABEER HUSSAIN
S/O MEHRAJ-UD-DIN
R/O GARKOTE URI BARAMULLA
PID No. 107818
AB RASHID HAJAM
S/O GH AHMAD HAJAM
R/O LALPORA KUNZER BARAMULLA
PID No. 107428
MOHD ASHRAF SOFI
S/O GH AHMAD SOFI
R/O SOGAM CHADOORA BUDGAM
PID No. 106916
SERAJ AHMAD PATHAN
S/O ABDUL RAZAQ PATHAN
R/O MEERIPORA BUDGAM
PID No. 106853
TANVEER AHMAD WANI
S/O GH MOHD WANI
R/O KHORE SHERABAD BARAMULLA
PID No. 106318
MOHD ASHRAF HAJAM
S/O GH MOHD HAJAM
R/O LALPORA KUNZER BARAMULLA
PID No. 106103
AIJAZ AHMAD MIR
S/O AB AZIZ MIR
R/O BATERGAM KUPWARA
PID No. 105706
JAVEED AHMAD MIR
S/O ALI MOHD MIR
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU,
Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806,
PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN=
Tripathi
Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30'
ITEM 7 5 OA 814 OF 2023
R/O MEERIPORA BUDGAM
PID No. 106543
TARIQ AHMAD DAR
S/O MOHD ASHRAF DAR
R/O RATHSUN BEERWAH BUDGAM
PID No. 108009
HILAL AHMAD LONE
S/O GH MOHIDIN LONE
R/O ZALOORA BUMAI BARAMULLA
PID No. 106518
AJAZ AHMAD SHEIKH
S/O MOHD AKBAR SHEIKH
R/O KUNZER BARAMULLA
PID No. 108150
BAHAR AHMAD KHAN
S/O ATTAULLAH KHAN
R/O GUIWA PATTAN BARAMULLA
PID No. 107823
ARIF AKBAR TANTRAY
S/O MOHD AKBAR TANTRAY
R/O GUND KARIM KHAN BARAMULLA
PID No. 108159
MOHD IQBAL MIR
S/O MOHD RAMZAN MIR
R/O ARIN BANDIPORA
PID No. 106361
FAROOQ AHMAD
S/O ABDUL KHALIQ TANTRY
R/O SHIRPORA BANGIL BARAMULLA
PID No. 107336
SAJAD AHMAD MIR
S/O MOHD ABDULLAH MIR
R/O GUND-I-RAJAB CHADOORA BUDGAM
PID No. 108312
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU,
Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806,
PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN=
Tripathi
Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30'
ITEM 7 6 OA 814 OF 2023
FIRDOUS AHMAD DAR
S/O AB RASHID DAR
R/O SEER JAGIR SOPORE BARAMULLA
PID No. 107897
BASHIR AHMAD
S/O GH NABI CHOPAN
R/O LALPORA KUNZER BARAMULLA
PID No. 106302
FAYAZ AHMAD
S/O GH HASSAN
R/O GURWAIT KALAN KHANSAHB BUDGAM
PID No. 106917
JAVID AHMAD NAIK
S/O GHULAM RASOOL NAIK
R/O ZOGIYAR SHEERI BARAMULLA
PID No. 106974
MOHD RAMZAN MIR
S/O MOHD AHSANA MIR
R/O BRATH KALAN SOPORE BARAMULLA
PID No. 108779
MOHD JAVAID
S/O SULLAH MOHD
R/O KHATAIN DRABA SURANKOT POONCH
PID No. 106578
ABDUL RASHEED PANDITH
S/O GULAM MOHAMAD PANDITH
R/O MUGHAMA KUNZER BARAMULLA
PID No. 108589
MUZAFAR AHMAD DAR
S/O AB KHALIQ DAR
R/O AGLAR CHIRAT SHOPIAN
PID No. 108475
MUSHTAQ UL ASLAM
Devendra Tripathi
Devendra
C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU,
Phone=
236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806,
PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER=
4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN=
Tripathi
Devendra Tripathi
I am the author of this document
2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30'
ITEM 7 7 OA 814 OF 2023
S/O MOHD AMIN PEER
R/O WAGUB SOPORE BARAMULLA
PID No. 108349
HILAL AHMAD LONE
S/O GH NABI LONE
R/O ZANGAM PATTAN BARAMULLA
PID No. 106517
......Applicants
By Advocate :
Mr. Shah Aashiq Hussain
VERSUS
1.Government of Jammu and Kashmir through
Commissioner cum Secretary to Government Home
Department, Civil Secretariat Jammu/Srinagar.
2. Director General of Police J&K, Srinagar/Jammu.
3. Inspector General of Police Armed, J&K, Srinagar.
4. Deputy Inspector General IRP, Kashmir Range.
......Respondents
By Advocate :-
Mr. Rais Ud Din Ganaie, DAG
O R D E R (FINAL)
JUSTICE RITU TAGORE, MEMBER [JUDL.]
01. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants have filed the present Original Application seeking the benefit of Old Pension Scheme, as the respondents have allegedly applied and extended SRO 400 of 2009 to the applicants and thereby regulated their Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN= Tripathi Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30' ITEM 7 8 OA 814 OF 2023 service under the New Pension Scheme, whereas their batch mates, who were recruited/selected along with them under the same advertisement dated 07-02-2009, have been governed under the Old Pension Rules. It is submitted that the applicants are thus being subjected to hostile discrimination and unequal treatment.
02. Learned counsel further submits that the applicants have also filed M.A. No. 715/2024 seeking condonation of delay in filing the O.A. It is submitted that despite several chances, the respondents have not filed their reply/objections to the application seeking condonation of delay.
03.Learned counsel also submits that the applicants have filed M.A. No. 40/2026 for placing on record certain judgments/orders passed in similar matters, namely orders dated 09.12.2024 and 01.10.2024 passed in O.A. No. 289/2022 titled Lateef Ahmad Dar v. Govt. of J&K & Ors. and O.A. No. 02/2023 titled Tariq Ahmad Malik v. Govt. of J&K & Ors. It is further submitted that the Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN= Tripathi Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30' ITEM 7 9 OA 814 OF 2023 applicants are mainly relying upon the order passed by this Tribunal in O.A. No. 700/2023 titled Showkat Ahmad Bhat v. Home Department, and the present case is squarely covered by the observations made therein.
04.Mr. Rais-ud-Din Ganaie, learned DAG, appears for the respondents.
05.Section 21 of the Central Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985 governs the period of limitation for filing an O.A. before the Tribunal. Section 21(a), inter-alia, stipulates that where a final order, as contemplated under clause (a) of Sub Section (2) of Section 20 has been passed in connection with the grievance of the applicant, no application shall be admitted by the Tribunal unless it is filed within one year from the date on which such final order was passed. It is well settled that an Original Application filed beyond the prescribed period can be entertained only if the Tribunal is satisfied that sufficient cause has been shown for condonation of delay, in accordance with law.
Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN= Tripathi Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30' ITEM 7 10 OA 814 OF 2023
06.In Anil Ramdas Pawar vs Union of India, through Secretary (2020) SCC Online (Bombay) 375, the Court dealt with a service law matter regarding condonation of delay in filing an application.
07.In the aforesaid case, the petitioner had challenged the order of imposition of penalty and rejection of review before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Nagpur Bench. There was delay of about five years which was not condoned by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Nagpur Bench. The reasons for delay in not approaching the Tribunal after rejection of the review petition was his continuous transfers. In this backdrop, the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay (Nagpur) observed as under :
"Undisputedly, the statute of limitation is founded on public policy with an aim to aid the diligent and to prevent oppression. The term 'sufficient cause', has to be interpreted in the facts and circumstances of each case. It postulates a liberal approach to substantiate the cause of justice, rather than defeat it on technicalities. In absence of any presumption, the Court cannot suspect the cause of delay, unless it lacks bona fides. The acceptability of the explanation is the criteria and not the length of time. Mere ground of delay shall not become a cause for denying substantial justice to the petitioner."
Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN= Tripathi Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30' ITEM 7 11 OA 814 OF 2023
08.The Tribunal has carefully considered the material placed on record and the explanation furnished by the applicants in support of the delay. It is also noticed that despite service, the respondents have not filed any reply/objections to the application seeking condonation of delay.
09.In the light of the facts pleaded by the applicants, this Tribunal is of the considered view that sufficient cause has been shown by the applicants for not approaching this Tribunal within the prescribed period of limitation .
10.The reasons assigned by the applicants do not reflect any lack of bona fides, deliberate inaction or negligence.
11.It is well settled that a hyper-technical, mathematical or pedantic approach in such service matters is nothing but denial of justice. Therefore, in the peculiar facts of the case, this Tribunal deems it a fit case to condone the delay and provide an opportunity to the applicants to plead their case on merits.
Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN= Tripathi Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30' ITEM 7 12 OA 814 OF 2023
12.Accordingly, M.A. No. 715/2024 is allowed. The delay in filing O.A. No. 814/2023 is condoned and the O.A. is taken up for consideration.
13.The applicants have also filed M.A. No. 40/2026 seeking permission to place on record certain judgments/orders passed in similar matters. For the reasons stated therein, M.A. No. 40/2026 is allowed. The judgments/orders annexed therewith are taken on record.
14. However, after advancing arguments for some time, learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants would be satisfied if a direction is issued to the respondents to treat the present O.A. as a representation and to consider and decide the claim of the applicants in accordance with the applicable rules and the settled position of law, particularly in view of the fact that similarly placed employees selected under the same advertisement dated 07-02-2009 have already been granted the benefit of Old Pension Scheme, and also keeping in view the observations made by this Tribunal in Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN= Tripathi Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30' ITEM 7 13 OA 814 OF 2023 O.A. No. 700/2023 titled Showkat Ahmad Bhat v. Home Department, within a stipulated period.
15.In view of the limited prayer made by learned counsel for the applicants, the respondents are directed to treat this O.A. as a representation and decide the claim of the applicants in accordance with the law, considering that similarly placed employees selected under the same advertisement dated 07-02-2009 have been granted the benefit of Old Pension Scheme. This shall be done within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.
16.With the above directions, O.A. stands disposed of. All pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of.
17.There shall be no order as to costs.
(JUSTICE RITU TAGORE) Member(Judl.) 17-02-2026 DEVENDRA TRIPATHI Devendra Tripathi Devendra C=IN, O=Personal, T=5448, OID.2.5.4.65=1335902360675164369yr67OOaFf4FUU, Phone= 236562a5958b9eca99c76e0cd4bf8b9d299d3cc05b5e9e99bdac2e7edc7b4806, PostalCode=210205, S=Uttar pradesh, SERIALNUMBER= 4bac910bd6fb0517c9c605b6139bc94885e3842e98c5f4b67497262309ae27cb, CN= Tripathi Devendra Tripathi I am the author of this document 2026.03.02 11:52:09+05'30'