K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J.

1. The petitioner is an eminent Scientist, who worked in the Department of Space from its very inception in the year 1972 and headed the Indian Space Research Organisation [for brevity “ISRO”] as its Chairman for about half-a-dozen years. The petitioner has been honoured with doctorates by Universities and decorated by the Country itself. The petitioner challenges Exhibits P1, P2 and P3 orders which so to say, placed him in the dock and blacklisted him from any Governmental engagement. The issue assumes poignancy, since the Space programme is the most prestigious initiative in any developing or developed country of today’s world; for reasons of the significant ramification it has on the defence of the Country and the tantalizing temptation it offers in unravelling the secrets of the beyond; often termed as the next frontier of mankind. The report at Exhibit P1 and the orders at Exhibits P2 and P3 are issued on the ground that an agreement entered into with a private company has been done in such manner as to cast a shadow on the post the petitioner occupied, which directly reflects on his persona and credibility.

2. The Central Government has filed a d