2026:UHC:2635-DB HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL THE HON’BLE CHIEF JUSTICE SHRI MANOJ KUMAR GUPTA AND THE HON’BLE JUSTICE SHRI SUBHASH UPADHYAY 15th April, 2026 Writ Petition (PIL) No. 53 of 2026 Anil Chandra Baluni ------Petitioner Versus State of Uttarakhand & others -----Respondents ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Presence:- Mr. Gyanendra Kumar Sharma, learned counsel assisted by Ms. Khushboo Tiwari Sharma, learned counsel for the petitioner. Mr. Puran Singh Bisht, learned Chief Standing Counsel, assisted by Mr. Gajendra Tripathi, learned Standing Counsel for the State/respondent no. 1. Mr. Shobhit Saharia, learned counsel assisted by Ms. Arushi Batra, learned counsel for the respondent no.2. Mr. Dharmendra Barthwal, learned counsel for the respondent no. 3. Mr. Ankit Bisht, Advocate, holding brief of Mr. Vinay Kumar, learned counsel for the respondent no.4. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ JUDGMENT: (per Manoj Kumar Gupta, C.J.) 1. The present petition has been filed in public interest for the following reliefs: “(1). Issue a writ of certiorari quashing the Procedure Determination Regulation, 2026 for the selection and Appointment of Managing Director and Executive Director, dated 05.03.2026, enacted separately for PTCUL, UPCL and UJVNL, Annexure No. P-1, P-2 and P-3 at Pages 31 to 136, on the ground that the Rules violates Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India and are resultant of arbitrary and biased administrative action of the State. 1 2026:UHC:2635-DB (2). Pass an interim order for stay of the operation of the Procedure Determination Regulation, 2026 for the selection and appointment of Managing Director and Executive Director dated 05.03.2026 enacted separately for PTCUL, UPCL and UJVNL, Annexure No. P1, P-2 and P-3 Pages 31 to 136 and appointments, if are required for the administrative exigency , may be made under the Uttarakhand Selection and Appointment of Managing Directors and Directors Procedure Determination Rules (Amended) 2021, Annexure No. P-4 pages 137 to 166. (3) Issue a direction that until rational, legal and well-reasoned Rules are framed, the appointments in all the three Corporations of the Power Sector, Government of Uttarakhand may be made in accordance with the Uttarakhand Selection and Appointment of Managing Director and Procedure Determination Rules (amended) 2021; and” 2. It is stated in paragraph 8 of the writ petition that no other petition to the knowledge of the petitioner is pending before this Court on the same issue. 3. Learned counsel for the respondent- corporations point out that the same Regulations are under challenge at the behest of the aggrieved person in Writ Petition (S/B) No. 184 of 2026, Anupam Singh vs. Principal Secretary, Energy Department, Government of Uttarakhand and others, wherein on 2 2026:UHC:2635-DB 02.04.2026, while entertaining the said writ petition, counter affidavit was invited from the respondents. 4. As the Regulations are already under challenge at the behest of aggrieved person, therefore, we are not inclined to entertain the present PIL. 5. The PIL is dismissed. 6. Pending application, if any, also stands disposed of. (MANOJ KUMAR GUPTA, C.J.) (SUBHASH UPADHYAY, J.) Dated: 15.04.2026 Kaushal 3