W.P.(C) 2554/2026 $~65 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 2554/2026 UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Advitiya Awasthi, Mr.Devjeet Brahmand and Mr.Nikhil Batra, Advocates. versus PIYUSH ANAND & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Palash S Singhai, Harshal Sareen and Aashima Gautam, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KSHETARPAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT MAHAJAN O R D E R % 24.02.2026 CM APPL. 12406/2026 [Exemption] 1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. 2. The application stands disposed of. W.P.(C) 2554/2026 & CM APPL. 12405/2026 [Stay] 3. This writ petition is filed by the Petitioner/Union Public Service Commission (hereafter ‘UPSC’) praying for issuance of writ in the nature of certiorari to quash the order dated 12.11.2025 (hereafter ‘impugned order’), passed in O.A. No. 997/2024, whereby the learned Central Administrative Tribunal allowed the said original application filed by the Respondent No.1. 4. Briefly stated, pursuant to the recruitment advertisement no. 09/2022, the Respondent No. 1 had applied for the post of Assistant Director (Banking) in Serious Fraud Investigation Office. He qualified the written test and was shortlisted vide result dated 10.11.2023, however, his candidature was rejected on the ground that he lacked 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 26/02/2026 at 13:19:07 W.P.(C) 2554/2026 requisite working experience. The recruitment advertisement requires the candidate to possess the following essential qualification and experience for the concerned post: “ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: (A) EDUCATIONAL: Chartered Accountant or Cost and Management Accountant or Company Secretary or Chartered Financial Analyst or Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Finance) or Master's of Business Administration (Finance) or Master’s of Business Economics or Master's of Commerce. (B) EXPERIENCE: One year’s experience in finance or banking affairs from any government listed private organization. NOTE-I: The Qualifications are relaxable at the discretion of the Union Public Service Commission, for reasons to be recorded in writing, in the case of candidates otherwise well qualified. NOTE-II: The qualification(s) regarding experience is/are relaxable at the discretion of the Union Public Service Commission, for reasons to be recorded in writing in the case of candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, if at any stage of selection the Union Public Service Commission is of the opinion that sufficient number of candidates from this community possessing the requisite experience are not likely to be available to fill up the vacancies reserved for them.” 5. Admittedly, the Respondent No.1 is a qualified chartered accountant and he had cleared the requisite exams in the year 2019 itself. Thereafter, he gained experience and worked in a number of organizations, as was detailed by him in a counter affidavit filed before the learned Tribunal, which is as under: S.No. Name of the Company (Designation held) Duration of the work Remarks 1 PWC 3 months 22 days (From 03.02.2022 To 24.05.2022) Experience not considered for the post as experience certificate submitted by the candidate has no duties of the work done in the organization. 2 Deloitte, Delhi/Gurugram (Assistant Manager, Restructuring Services) 3 months 25 days (From 30.08.2021 To 24.12.2021) Experience considered for the post. 3 Witworth Insolvency Professional Private Ltd. 9 months 11 days (From 10.06.2020 Experience not considered for 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 26/02/2026 at 13:19:07 W.P.(C) 2554/2026 (Intern) To 11.04.2021) post as the submitted certificate is an internship completion certificate which was a part of two year Graduate Insolvency Programme 2019- 2021 which he did from Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs. 4 Deloitte, Gurugram (Assistant Manager, Statutory Audit) 1 month 23 days (From 11.03.2019 To 03.05.2019) Experience considered for the post. 6. The experience of Respondent No.1 in Witworth Insolvency Professional Private Ltd. was sought to be excluded on the ground that he was only working as an intern in that organization. Finding the same to be arbitrary and capricious, the learned Tribunal observed that the said experience is extremely rigorous and the same deserved to be counted as relevant work experience. 7. It is pointed out that while working in Witworth Insolvency Professional Private Ltd. for over 9 months, Respondent No.1 was also drawing remuneration of ₹50,000/- per month for his services. 8. In such circumstances, the conclusion drawn by the learned Tribunal is plausible. 9. Pertinently, the Respondent No.1 has already been allowed to participate in the interview pursuant to the interim order passed by the learned Tribunal. On being asked, the learned counsel representing the Petitioner admits that even during the interview, the Respondent No.1 has performed very well and he has been placed at serial no. 1 amongst the selected candidates. 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 26/02/2026 at 13:19:07 W.P.(C) 2554/2026 10. Keeping in view the aforesaid discussion, this Court finds no ground to interfere with the impugned order. 11. The petition is accordingly dismissed. Pending application also stands disposed of. ANIL KSHETARPAL, J AMIT MAHAJAN, J FEBRUARY 24, 2026 DU 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 26/02/2026 at 13:19:07