Mool Chandra Vs Union of India & Anr. (Supreme Court of India)
In the case of Mool Chandra vs. Union of India & Anr., the Supreme Court of India reviewed the rejection of a delay condonation request by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and upheld by the Delhi High Court. The appellant, Mool Chandra, a former Indian Statistical Service officer, was penalized for allegedly deserting his family in 1985 and living separately without judicial separation. After being dismissed from service in 2000, the CAT initially quashed the dismissal, leading to a minor penalty being imposed in 2004. Chandra sought further relief and promotions, but his appeals faced significant delays. In 2020, the Tribunal dismissed his plea for condonation of a 425-day delay, citing inadequate justification. The Delhi High Court affirmed this decision. Chandra appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the delay was due to his counsel’s mistake and that he should not suffer for it. The Supreme Court found the Tribunal’s and High Court’s decisions unsustainable and set them aside, allowing Chandra’s appeal. SC held that It is not the length of delay that would be required to be considered while examining the plea for condonation of delay, it is the cause for delay which has been propounded will have to be examined. The case highlights issues of procedural delays and the importance of fair adjudication in service-related disputes.
