$~57, 59 & 60 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010353402024 + W.P.(C) 8561/2024 GIRI RAJ SHARMA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Satwik Misra, Ms. Gunjan Dogra and Ms. Devashree, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Pratima N Lakra, CGSC with Ms. Santha Smruthi, Advocate and Ms. Pinky Pawar, GP for R-1. Mr. Digvijay Rai, SC, AAI with Mr. Archit Mishra, Advocate and Ms. Tanya Rohilla, Manager (Law) and Mr. Jayesh Bhardwaj, JE (Law) for R-2. 59 # CNR No. DLHC010464392024 + W.P.(C) 10662/2024 PRABHAT CHAND GOPALAN .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Satwik Misra, Ms. Gunjan Dogra and Ms. Devashree, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Digvijay Rai, SC, AAI with Mr. Archit Mishra, Advocate and Ms. Tanya Rohilla, Manager (Law) and Mr. Jayesh Bhardwaj, JE (Law) for This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 05/09/2026 at 10:40:54 R-2. 60 # CNR No. DLHC010464712024 + W.P.(C) 10694/2024 BHUPINDER SINGH .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Satwik Misra, Ms. Gunjan Dogra and Ms. Devashree, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Varun Vats, SPC with Mr. Chetan Jadon, G.P. for UOI. Mr. Digvijay Rai, SC, AAI with Mr. Archit Mishra, Advocate and Ms. Tanya Rohilla, Manager (Law) and Mr. Jayesh Bhardwaj, JE (Law) for R-2. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA O R D E R % 01.09.2026 1. The Petitioners, employees of the Airports Authority of India [“AAI”], were placed under deemed suspension with effect from 30th October, 2013 in connection with criminal proceedings initiated against them. Their grievance in the present petitions pertains to the non-release of the annual increment for the year 2013-14, which fell due on 01st April, 2014. They accordingly seek release of the said increment with cumulative effect and consequential benefits. 2. Counsel for the Petitioners informs the Court that, during the This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 05/09/2026 at 10:40:54 pendency of the present proceedings, AAI has released the annual increment along with consequential benefits. In this regard, he has handed over an Office Order dated 25th February, 2026 issued in respect of Prabhat Chand Gopalan, Petitioner in W.P.(C) 10662/2024, which is taken on record. The said order treats the entire period of his deemed suspension from 30th October, 2013 to 16th May, 2014 as spent on duty and, consequently, releases the withheld annual increment with retrospective effect and re-fixes his pay thereafter. Similar orders are stated to have been passed in respect of the Petitioners in the connected petitions. This is not disputed by AAI. 3. In view thereof, counsel for the Petitioners states that their principal grievance stands redressed and confines the relief sought to interest on account of the delayed release of the annual increment and consequential benefits. 4. On the aspect of interest, counsel for the Petitioners points out that the sanction for their prosecution was quashed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, by judgment dated 17th December, 2021 in Criminal Revision Nos. 3274/2018, 3015/2020 and 2210/2018. The said judgment was carried in challenge before the Supreme Court in SLP (Crl.) Nos. 4006-4008/2022, which were dismissed by order dated 01st October, 2024, finding no reason to interfere with the judgment of the High Court. Despite the sanction having been quashed on 17th December, 2021, the annual increment and consequential benefits were granted only by orders passed during the pendency of the present petitions. 5. In these circumstances, considering that the sanction for prosecution had been quashed as far back as on 17th December, 2021, the Court considers it appropriate to compensate the Petitioners for the delay in release This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 05/09/2026 at 10:40:54 of the monetary benefits due to them. Accordingly, the Petitioners shall be entitled to interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the amounts released towards the annual increment and consequential benefits, with effect from 17th December, 2021 till the date of actual payment. The interest amount shall be released within a period of six weeks from today. 6. With the above directions, the petitions are disposed of. SANJEEV NARULA, J SEPTEMBER 1, 2026/hc This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 05/09/2026 at 10:40:54