2026:HHC:9452 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.4137 of 2026 Decided on: 31.03.2026 Lt. Col. Arun Tanwar … Petitioner Versus Union of India and others … Respondents Coram Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 ____________________________________________________ _ For the petitioner: Dr. Lalit Kumar Sharma, Advocate. For the respondents: Mr. Balram Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India. Ajay Mohan Goel, Judge (Oral) By way of this petition, the petitioner has, inter alia, prayed for the following reliefs:- “i) That the impugned employment notice dated 21/02/2026 ANNEXURE P5 whereby the respondent no.3 is going to fill up the post of Dental Officer at ECHS Polyclinic Shimla which is already occupied by the petitioner since 28/01/2017 till date by another set of contractual appointee may kindly be set aside and quashed. (ii) That respondents may kindly be directed to permit the petitioner to discharge his duty as Dental Officer at ECHS Polyclinic Shimla till the disposal of the SLP(c) 36359/2016 titled Sonu Kumar vs. UOI and other which is pending adjudication before the Apex Court. (iii) That the impugned Annexure P5 qua the post of Dental Officer at ECHS Polyclinic Shimla being contrary to judgment dated 15/05/2024 passed by this Hon'ble Court in CWP 3260/2016 and connected matters may 1 Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2 2026:HHC:9452 kindly be set aside and quashed.” 2. In light of the fact that the issue is pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in view of the certain adjudications which has been made by this Court in earlier petitions pertaining to the employees similarly situated as the present petitioner, this petition is disposed of with the direction that the petitioner shall be permitted to continue on contract basis and his appointment shall abide by final adjudication by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Special Leave Petition (C) No. 36359/2016, titled as Sonu Kumar vs. Union of India and other connected matters. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, also stand disposed of accordingly. (Ajay Mohan Goel) Judge March 31, 2026 (Rishi)