2026:UHC:3809 SL. No. Dat e Office Not es, r epor t s, or der s or pr oceedin gs or dir ect ion s an d Regist r ar ’s or der w it h Sign at u r es COURT’S OR JUDGE’S ORDERS W PSS/ 1 8 2 3 / 2 0 2 5 Hon ’ble Man oj Ku m ar Tiw ar i, J 1. Mr. T.P.S. Takuli, learned counsel for the petitioner. 2. Mr. Rajesh Sharma, learned Central Government Standing Counsel for the Union of India. 3. Mr. Lalit Sharma, learned counsel for respondent nos. 2 & 3 - ARIES. 4. Petitioner is serving as Senior Engineering Associate (Mechanical) in Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES). He made representation for promotion to the next higher post. His request was turned down by Registrar vide letter dated 04.04.2025, which is challenged in this writ petition. 5. The reason assigned for turning down petitioner’s request is that Department of Science and Technology, Government of India is about to introduce a Unified Career Progression Scheme (UCPS), therefore, petitioner’s claim for promotion can be considered only after enforcement of the said Scheme. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner has drawn attention of this Court to para 5 of the short-counter affidavit filed by Mr. Rang Nath Upadhyaya, Under Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, which is extracted below: - 2026:UHC:3809 “5 . That it is submitted that Promotion are being given to the petitioner and other staff members as per the current policy of ARIES. The promotion and other service-related matters pertaining to employees of ARIES falls under the administrative domain of the institute.” 7. Learned counsel for the petitioner thus submits that the reason assigned for not considering petitioner’s request by the Registrar is, therefore, fallacious. He submits that promotions are to be made in ARIES as per the applicable policies and the reference to UCPS in the rejection order is, therefore, misleading. 8. This Court finds some substance in the said contention raised on behalf of the petitioner. The short-counter affidavit filed on behalf of Department of Science & Technology clearly indicates that promotions are to be made strictly as per the promotion policy applicable in ARIES, therefore, reference to UCPS in the rejection order was not apposite. 9. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the writ petition is disposed of by permitting the petitioner to make fresh representation claiming promotion to the next higher post. If he makes such representation within ten days from today, decision thereupon shall be taken by the Competent Authority in ARIES within four weeks thereafter. ( Man oj Ku m ar Tiw ar i, J) 18.05.2026 Aswal NITI RAJ SINGH ASWAL Digitally signed by NITI RAJ SINGH ASWAL DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND, ou=HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND, 2.5.4.20=eacc6757ee7881e933ff8934f07477005aa85f9802a3a08b08d1369512ea30f3, postalCode=263001, st=UTTARAKHAND, serialNumber=44EB54CBF00B7698CB6F10C2CE3D26F5C22DACF4F4610C1FE58A58531726FBB0, cn=NITI RAJ SINGH ASWAL Date: 2026.05.18 05:32:50 -07'00' 2026:UHC:3809