(1.) The present Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India 'Constitution' challenging the Order dtd. 6/1/2025 'Impugned Order' passed by the learned Lokpal of India 'Lokpal/Respondent' in Complaint No. 162/2024, as well as the consequential Notices dtd. 7/1/2025 issued to the Petitioners under Sec. 20(3) of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 'The Lokpal Act'.
(2.) At the outset, it is noted that after the filing of this Petition, this Court passed an interim Order dtd. 31/1/2025 directing that any further orders passed by the Respondent would remain subject to the outcome of the present Petition. Subsequently, on an application moved by the Petitioners, this Court, vide Order dtd. 20/3/2025, directed that the Order dtd. 6/1/2025, the Notices dtd. 7/1/2025, the Order dtd. 4/3/2025, and all proceedings in Complaint No. 162/2024 pending before the learned Lokpal shall remain in abeyance until further orders.
(3.) The conspectus of facts, to the extent material and germane to the present proceedings, is encapsulated in the following manner: