Matter of appointment of NHPC CMD reaches Delhi High Court

Delhi: The appointment of NHPC CMD Rajkumar Chaudhary has been challenged in Delhi High Court.

A Delhi High Court advocate informed this, saying the hearing will take place on May 15.

“Challenging the appointment of National Hydro Power Corporation Ltd. (NHPC) CMD Rajkumar Chaudhary, the plaintiff’s advocate Navendu Kumar has filed a petition in Delhi High Court saying that his appointment was done without following the conditions of the advertisement issued for the selection of CMD. The Delhi High Court bench has ordered the defendant to file a reply within a week and fixed the next hearing on 15 May,” the advocate said, sharing the copy of the order.

The order copy suggested that the court had earlier fixed the date of hearing in the matter on July 30 this year, but the court ordered an early hearing as Chaudhary is expected to retire on June 30 this year.

“The petitioner seeks a writ of quo warranto against the appointment of respondent No. 7 as Chairman and Managing Director of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. It is submitted that the writ petition would be rendered infructuous as respondent No. 7 will retire on 30.06.2025, before the next date of hearing fixed in the matter, which is 30.07.2025. Respondents 1 to 5 and 7 are represented. They are directed to ensure that their counter-affidavits are filed in the writ petition within a period of one week from today. Rejoinders thereto, if any, shall be filed within three days thereafter. Respondent No. 6—chairperson, Central Electric Authority—is not represented, although the office reports that service of the writ petition upon respondent No. 6 is complete. An affidavit of service has also been filed. Learned counsel for respondents No. 1 to 5 is directed to ensure that respondent No. 6 is also informed of the pendency of the matter and the next date of hearing by 29.04.2025 so that he/she can also file a counter affidavit within the time granted by this Court. List the writ petition on 15.05.2025 in the category of “for admission” matters. The next date of hearing, i.e., 30.07.2025, stands cancelled,” the order given on April 28 reads.