LAWS(SC)-2021-10-27

UNION OF INDIA Vs. N.MURUGESAN

Decided On October 07, 2021
UNION OF INDIA Appellant
V/S
N.Murugesan Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Shri KM Nataraj, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the appellant and Shri Prashant Bhushan, learned counsel for the respondent. There is no representation on behalf of Shri VS Nandakumar who has been arrayed as a private respondent and whose recruitment and selection was also challenged by Respondent No.1. We have also perused the documents filed and written submissions placed by the parties.

(2.) As the present appeals are filed by both contesting parties challenging the same impugned judgment, for the sake of brevity they are disposed of by a common order. Civil Appeal No. 2491-2492 of 2021 is taken up as a lead case, and the parties arrayed thereunder are to be taken in the same manner for the other cases as well.

(3.) Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) is an autonomous body registered as a society under the Karnataka Societies Act, 1960. It functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Power. The object of this institution is to contribute to the power sector in the country for improved planning, operation and control of power systems while serving as a national level laboratory for undertaking applied research in electrical power engineering besides functioning as an independent national testing, certification authority for electrical equipment, components to ensure reliability in power systems and to innovate and develop new products. Thus, there is an extreme element of public interest involved in the functioning of the CPRI.