New Delhi, Nov 28 (LatestNewsX) – In a decision this Friday, the Delhi High Court halted the Lokpal’s proceedings against Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and other officials over alleged irregularities in National Productivity Council promotions.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued the ruling, effectively closing the case after the court had earlier granted interim relief to Singh and the other petitioners.
Earlier on 20 March, a separate bench made up of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani had stayed the Lokpal’s order, the related notices, and the anti‑corruption body’s decision to reject the petitioners’ jurisdictional objections.
The court noted that the case “requires in-depth consideration”, and it directed that “the operation of the impugned order dated 6th January, 2025, the notices dated 7th January, 2025, order dated 04th March 2025 and the proceedings under Complaint No. 162/2024 pending before respondent – Lokpal shall be kept in abeyance till the next date of hearing.”
The dispute began with a complaint alleging misconduct in promotions released by the NPC on 28 March 2023. The petitioners claimed that these promotions were approved before Singh took up his post as Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on 21 April 2023.
Singh, a 1989 Kerala cadre IAS officer, was appointed India’s 40th Defence Secretary on 1 November 2024.
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, representing the petitioners, contended that the Lokpal had no jurisdiction in this matter, arguing that the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, permits action only when the offence falls under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
He further asserted that the complaint addressed mere procedural irregularities in promotions, not corruption, bribery, or misuse of public office.
In its stay, the Delhi High Court observed that “no such allegations of corruption or commission of offences under the PC Act have been made out, and thus, the impugned order and notices have been issued without taking into consideration any sufficient evidence or grounds to proceed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.”
Earlier on 4 March, the Lokpal had dismissed the petitioners’ preliminary objections, stating that the complaint met procedural requirements. The 2024 complaint led the anti‑corruption body to issue notices to Singh and other officials in January 2025, with the Lokpal arguing that the documented allegations could not be dismissed at the preliminary stage.
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