W.P.(C)/14064/2026 of PRAVEEN SINGH Vs NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM TRUST on 23 September 2026

O R D E R

% 23.09.2026

1. The petitioner is serving in the Respondent – National Pension System Trust [“NPST”] as General Manager (Grade ‘E’).

2. By way of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioner assails impugned communications dated 07.05.2026, 21.08.2026, and 01.09.2026, by which his promotion to Chief General Manager (Grade ‘F’) has been kept in abeyance, and his case has been placed before the next promotion committee. He also seeks a direction upon the respondent to promote him to Chief General Manager, (Grade ‘F’), in terms of the Select List dated 10.12.2025, with effect from

01.01.2026.

3. I have heard Mr. Nikhilesh Ramachandran, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Mr. Ajit Kumar Sinha, learned Senior Counsel for the respondent.

4. The petitioner participated in an exercise for promotion to the post of Chief General Manager, which, according to him, culminated in his empanelment for the Panel Year 2026. However, before he was promoted, a show cause notice was issued to him on 01.01.2026, contemplating action in respect of his alleged conduct while acting as a member of a committee constituted for promotions of officers of the respondent from Grade ‘A’ to Grade ‘B’. The show cause notice led to issuance of a Charge Memorandum dated 03.02.2026, and an Inquiry Report dated 30.06.2026. Further, by way of an order dated 27.07.2026, a penalty of “Censure” was imposed upon the petitioner.

5. The petitioner has filed an appeal against the order dated 27.07.2026 challenging the aforesaid penalty, which remains pending before the Appellate Authority. His grievance is that the Select List for his empanelment in Panel Year 2026 was not given effect, and he has instead been directed to participate afresh in a promotion exercise.

6. Mr. Sinha states, upon instructions, that the result of the exercise, which lead to the Select List being issued on 10.12.2025 for the Panel Year 2026, had been kept in a sealed cover. He submits that at the relevant time, disciplinary proceedings were “pending/contemplated” against the petitioner, and he was thus ineligible for promotion from Grade ‘E’ to Grade ‘F’ in terms of Clause 10(i)(c) of the respondent’s NPST Promotion Policy, 2025. In support of this submission, he has handed over the aforesaid policy, NPST Employees’ Service Rules, 2021, and an Office Memorandum dated 28.04.2014, which have been taken on record.

7. Mr. Sinha further submits that the petitioner may participate in the upcoming promotion exercise, without prejudice to his rights and contentions in his pending appeal against the disciplinary order dated 27.07.2026. He states that if the petitioner succeeds in appeal, the sealed cover will be opened, and effect will be given to the decision for the Panel Year 2026.

8. Mr. Ramachandran, upon instructions, states that the petitioner is satisfied, with the aforesaid clarification from the respondent. He therefore does not seek any further orders in this writ petition.

9. In view of the above submissions, the petition, alongwith pending applications, is disposed of, binding the respondent to the clarification recorded above. PRATEEK JALAN, J SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 SS/SM/