'Half-Baked Petition': Delhi High Court Dismisses Centre's Plea With ₹25,000 Costs

The Delhi High Court has recently dismissed a petition filed by the Union Government challenging orders passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), observing that it was filed after an inordinate delay of three years and was a “half-baked” attempt lacking the complete record.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Amit Mahajan imposed costs of Rs. 25,000, directing that the amount be deposited with the Poor Patients Fund, AIIMS.

The Court further ordered that the costs be recoverable from the officer who took the decision to file the petition .

“It is evident that half-baked petitions are being filed before this Court, in such circumstances, this Court is left with no choice but to dismiss this Petition with cost of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only) payable to the Poor Patients Fund, AIIMS, New Delhi, which shall be recoverable from the Officer, who took decision to file such half-baked Petition,” the Court said.

The petition was filed by the Union of India assailing the CAT's decision dated October 20, 2022, by which the Original Application filed by one Inder Pal was allowed. On December 07, 2022, the Department's review application was dismissed.

Dismissing the plea, the Bench noted that despite the CAT proceedings concluding in 2022, the writ petition was instituted only in December 2025.

“Notably, the present Petition seeking to set aside the orders passed by the Tribunal, came to be filed only in December 2025, after an inordinate delay of 03 years. To add irony to delay, one of the orders under challenge, namely the order dated 07.12.2022, has not been attached to the petition,” it said.

While imposing costs, the Court granted liberty is granted to the Union Government to file a fresh plea along with complete record relevant for its adjudication, subject to payment of the costs.

Title: UNION OF INDIA v. INDER PAL

Click here to read order