$~9 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 16187/2025, CM APPL. 73973-73974/2025, CM APPL. 77130/2025 & CM APPL. 77190/2025 PROF B N CHAUDHARY .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Ranjan Mukharjee, Mr. Deep Raj and Mr. Prashant Saurav, Advocates. versus UNIVERSITY OF DELHI & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Praveen Kumar Singh, Mr. C. Sanal Nambiar, Ms. Abhinav Shailly, Ms. Chetna Singh and Mr. Shubham Mathur, Advocates for R-1 and R-3. Mr. Mohinder J. S. Rupal, Mr. Hardik Rupal, Ms. Aishwarya Malhotra and Ms. Tripta Sharma, Advocates for R- 4. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA O R D E R % 16.02.2026 1. The Petitioner, a Professor at PGDAV College (Evening), has filed the present writ petition being aggrieved by the continuance of Respondent No. 4 as Principal of the College after completion of the prescribed tenure. The grievance of the Petitioner is founded on Ordinance XVIII of the University of Delhi, which stipulates that the tenure of a College Principal shall be five years, extendable for a further term of five years on the basis of performance assessment by a Committee appointed by the University. It 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 18/02/2026 at 12:56:50 further provides that upon completion of the term, the incumbent shall revert to the parent organisation in the designation and grade of Professor. The provision regarding appointment of an Acting Principal is also limited to a period not exceeding six months. 2. During the pendency of the proceedings, certain developments have taken place. Counsel for the Petitioner has drawn attention to the counter affidavit filed by Respondent No. 4, wherein it is stated as follows: “The present Writ Petition in any case has become infructuous since the College has already initiated the process of selection of the Principal of College by releasing any advertisement on 04.11.2025. Hence there is no cause of action for the Petitioner to seek the reliefs as prayed for, more particularly prayer b and d of the Writ Petition. It is respectfully submitted that the present Writ Petition has been filed by the Petitioner primarily to seek the relief to officiate as Principal of the College which does not survive as the selection process of appointment of regular Principal has already started.” 3. At the same time, counsel for the University has informed the Court that a request seeking extension of the tenure of Respondent No. 4 up to April, 2026 has been received. It is stated that an earlier extension of three months had already been granted, and the presently subsisting extension would expire on 26th April, 2026. 4. In view of the above developments, although counsel for the Petitioner submits that the continuance of Respondent No. 4 beyond ten years is impermissible under the Ordinances, he submits that at this stage, without prejudice to his rights and contentions, the Petitioner would be satisfied if the recruitment process pursuant to the advertisement dated 4th November, 2025 is completed within a definite timeframe. 5. The suggestion made on behalf of the Petitioner appears fair and reasonable in the circumstances. Accordingly, the present petition is 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 18/02/2026 at 12:56:50 disposed of with a direction to the Respondent College to complete the process of appointment to the post of Principal, PGDAV College (Evening), in terms of the advertisement dated 4th November, 2025, well in time and preferably at least two weeks prior to the expiry of the extended term of Respondent No. 4, i.e., 26th April, 2026. 6. In the event the recruitment process is not completed within the aforesaid timeframe, liberty is reserved to the Petitioner to take recourse to appropriate remedies for non-compliance. All rights and contentions of the parties are left open. SANJEEV NARULA, J FEBRUARY 16, 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 18/02/2026 at 12:56:50