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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ W.P.(C) 717/2026, CM APPL. 3456/2026 & CM APPL. 3457/2026

KUSHAGRA SHARMA AND ORS. .....Petitioners

Through: Mr. Sanjoy Ghose, Senior Advocate

with Mr. Abhinav Hansaraman, Mr.

Rohan Mandal, Advocates.

versus

UNION OF INDIA & ANR. .....Respondents

Through: Mr. Balendu Shekhar, CGSC with

Mr. Rajkumar Maurya, Mr. Krishna Chaitanya, Mr. Divyansh Singh,

Advocates. CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA

O R D E R

% 17.01.2026

1. This writ petition arises from the re-examination of the SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2025 (Tier-I), held on 14^th October, 2025, for recruitment to 14,582 vacancies across Group “B” and Group “C” posts (Pay Levels 4 to 7). The immediate grievance is directed against the notification/corrigendum dated 14^th January, 2026 issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (‘DoPT’), Staff Selection Commission relating to the normalization methodology adopted for candidates rescheduled to the re-

examination.

2. Mr. Sanjoy Ghose, Senior Counsel for the Petitioners, at the outset, fairly states that the challenge would ordinarily lie before the Central

Administrative Tribunal (‘CAT’). He, however, submits that the Tribunal is not sitting today and the Tier-II examination is scheduled on 18^th January, 2026 and 19^th January, 2026. In that backdrop, a limited ad interim arrangement is sought to protect the Petitioners from being shut out of the Tier-II examination, on parity with the interim order passed by the CAT in O.A./140/2026 (Delhi), where similarly situated applicants have been permitted to provisionally participate, with their results directed to be kept in sealed cover.

3. Issue notice. Mr. Balendu Shekhar, CGSC, accepts notice on behalf of the Respondents. He submits that he has received a copy of the petition shortly before the hearing and has not yet received complete instructions. He also raises an objection on jurisdiction, contending that the present dispute lies within the exclusive domain of the CAT at the first instance.

4. The Court has considered the submissions. The jurisdictional objection is noted. It is equally material that the Tier-II examination is scheduled imminently on 18^th January, 2026 and 19^th January, 2026, and the Petitioners seek only a protective order for a short interregnum, coupled with an undertaking to approach the CAT. In service and recruitment matters, while the High Court ordinarily expects parties to avail the statutory forum, ad interim arrangements are not unknown where refusal to intervene would render the approaching of the competent forum illusory by reason of the immediacy of events. This Court, therefore, proposes to pass a narrowly tailored order, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the challenge.

5. The Petitioners state that they stand on the same footing as the applicants in O.A./140/2026 (Delhi) and seek parity in the interim protection, subject to filing an O.A. before the CAT within a short period.

The order of the Tribunal, as relied upon by the Petitioners, reads as under:

“ Order of The Tribunal

1. Learned Sr. advocate appearing on behalf of the applicants presses for grant of urgent interim relief as set forth in para 9 of the O.A. The same is reproduced herein below:-

"(a) Stay the results of the Tier-I SSC CGLE 2025.

(b) Permit the Petitioners to appear in Tier II of SSC CGLE 2025, subject to outcome of the instant petition; and (c) Stay the effect of the clause 4 of the impugned notification dated 14.01.2026 (d) Any other order that this Hon’ble Tribunal may deem fit and proper in the facts of the case”.

2. Highlighting the facts of the present matter, learned counsel for the applicants states that the exam of Tier-II exam of Combine Graduate Level Examination- 2025 (CGLE) is scheduled to be held on 18.01.2026 and therefore the applicants may permitted to participate in the selection process.

3. He draws attention to score obtained by one of the applicant namely Mr. Rishu Ranjan in the CGLE-2025 and