$~P-1 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Decided on: 28.05.2025 + W.P.(C) 16721/2024 ASHWINI KUMAR .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Navendu Kumar and Mr.

Karan Chopra, Advocates.

versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Ripu Daman Bhardwaj, CGSC with Mr. Kushagra Kumar, Mr. Amit Kumar Rana and Mr. Abhinav Bhardwaj, Advocate for Respondents No.1 to 5/UOI.

Mr. Avneesh Arputham and Mr.

Ankit Sharma, Advocates for R-7.

CORAM:

HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

JUDGEMENT

1. By way of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioner seeks a writ of quo warranto against the appointment of respondent No. 7 as Chairman and Managing Director [“CMD”] of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd. [“NHPC”]. He also seeks a declaration that the selection process undertaken by the Union of India [“UOI”] and the Public Enterprises Selection Board [“PESB”]

[respondent Nos. 1 to 5 herein] was illegal.

Signature Not Verified Signed By:PARUL W.P.(C) 16721/2024 Page 1 of 18 A. Facts

2. The impugned recruitment to the post of CMD, NHPC, commenced with an advertisement dated 17.06.2022, issued by PESB. For the purposes of the present litigation, the following features of t