ANIL KUMAR AGARWAL vs HEALTH on 27 October 2026

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH 61/35, COPERNICUS MARG,NEW DELHI-110001 Order Sheet Item no.: 85 O.A./1437/2023 (DELHI) [ MEDICAL FACILITIES ] [ SENIOR CITIZEN ] In Diary No.: 11921/2025 TAKING LEGAL HEIERS ON RECORDS With TAKING LEGAL HEIERS ON RECORDS M.A./265/2026 Along With Court No.: 5 No of Adjournment: 25 Order Dated: 27/10/2026 ANIL KUMAR AGARWAL Vs HEALTH

For Applicant(s) Advocate : Mr. Nikhil Dhiman For Respondent(s) Advocate : Mr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, Mr. Rohit Sambher with Ms Illashree, Mr. Archit Upadhyay Order of The Tribunal Heard learned counsel for the parties. The issue involved in the present matter concerns the extension of CGHS facilities to retired employees of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR). It is an admitted position between the parties that CGHS facilities have been extended to serving employees of NBPGR. However, the same facilities have not been extended to retired employees since 2022, pursuant to the distinction made by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

No rational or reasonable justification for making such a distinction between serving and retired employees has been brought to the notice of this Court. Learned counsel for the respondents has referred to the Office Memorandum dated 10.06.2024, wherein it has been stipulated that the extension of CGHS facilities to retired employees of autonomous organisations would be subject to the conditions specified therein. It prima facie appears that an artificial distinction has been created between serving and retired employees of NBPGR, as well as between retired employees of ICAR institutions and autonomous organisations situated in Delhi and those situated at other places. The aforesaid communication dated 10.06.2024 indicates that the concerned autonomous organisations may extend such facilities to their retired employees, subject to acceptance of the stipulated conditions. It has further been indicated that the facilities would be extended on a cost-to-cost basis. The matter, therefore, requires consideration and coordination between the two concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, namely, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Accordingly, the Secretaries of the two concerned Ministries/Departments are directed to hold a joint meeting and consider the issue of extending CGHS facilities to retired employees of NBPGR and other ICAR institutions situated in Delhi. They shall also examine whether similar facilities are being extended to retired employees of ICAR institutions situated in other towns and cities across the country and, if so, the basis on which such facilities are being extended. The concerned Secretaries shall endeavour to arrive at a mutually acceptable and uniform policy, keeping in view the applicable rules, the conditions stipulated in the aforesaid Office Memorandum, and the principle of non-arbitrariness, so that the issue may be resolved in a fair and consistent manner. Detail order to follow separately. Shri Rajveer Singh Verma Member (J) Chhabilendra Roul Member (A) Anjali Negi ( steno 'd' )