$~51 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 16380/2025 PARVEEN KOHLI @ RAJU KOHLI .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Rishab Kapoor, Mr. Vishal Chabra, Mr. Jitender Kohli, Mr. Kritin Raj Juneja, Mr. Naman Sharma, Mr. Prachi Gulati, Advs. Mob: 9210934017 versus LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Sumit K. Batra and Ms. Priyanka Jindal, Advocates for R/GNCTD. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV O R D E R % 24.03.2026 1. The petition is for directions to the respondent to publish in the official Gazzette, the names of the elected members of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (MNI) Azadpur, Delhi (Marketing Committee). Further, directions to the respondent to constitute the Marketing Committee upon such publication and to allow the elected members to assume charge, are also sought. 2. The petitioner has been elected as a member of the Marketing Committee, vide elections held on 06.12.2022. On 08.12.2022, the Director (Agricultural Marketing), GNCTD formally notified the names of all elected members as per Rule 60(1) of the Delhi Agricultural Produce Marketing 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 02/04/2026 at 11:57:51 (Election) Rules, 2000 (Rules) framed under the Delhi Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1998 (Act). 3. Thereafter, the petitioner made representations dated 03.01.2023, 30.01.2023, 17.02.2023, 01.05.2023, 12.10.2023, and 19.09.2024 to the respondent, seeking publication of the names of the elected members in the official Gazzette. However, the said exercise has not yet been carried out. 4. Mr. Rishab Kapoor, learned counsel for the petitioner, points out that the provision under Section 40 of the Act mandates the publication of names of the elected members in the official Gazzette. He submits that as per the said provision, the Marketing Committee shall be deemed to have been constituted only upon such publication. He submits that, therefore, despite completion of the election process, the elected members, including the petitioner, have been unable to assume charge of their posts. 5. It is seen that this Court, vide order dated 20.10.2025, directed for issuance of notice to the respondent and for filing of reply within a period of three weeks. Thereafter, on 24.02.2026, further time of two weeks was granted to the respondent. However, no response has yet been placed on record. 6. Even today, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent prays for further time of four weeks to enable the respondent to place on record the steps taken with respect to publication of the name of the petitioner. It is submitted that the file is in process. However, no reason, much less plausible reasons, is assigned for non compliance with the mandatory provisions of Section 40 of the Act. 7. The said provision is extracted below, for reference: “40. Publication of names of member of a Marketing Committee – 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 02/04/2026 at 11:57:51 names of the members of a Marketing committee shall, as soon as possible, be published in the official Gazette. Upon the publication of the names of all the members of a Marketing Committee or upon publication of the names of at-least nine members of such committee in the official Gazette, the Marketing Committee shall be deeded to have been duly constituted.” 8. A perusal of the same indicates that the exercise envisaged thereunder, is to be carried out as soon as possible. In the instant case, the election process was completed in the year 2022, and around four years have elapsed since. 9. In view of the aforesaid, let the Directorate (Agricultural Marketing), GNCTD to immediately take necessary steps towards publishing of the names of the elected members in the official Gazzette within six weeks from today. 10. Let a copy of the order be sent to the concerned Directorate for its compliance. 11. Accordingly, the petition stands disposed of. PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J MARCH 24, 2026/nm 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 02/04/2026 at 11:57:51