Overview
- The Hyderabad bench set aside the November 25, 2024 order appointing Jaiteerth R Joshi and nullified his elevation with effect from December 1, 2024.
- The Ministry of Defence and DRDO must reconsider the selection within four weeks and put an in‑charge in place that does not include Joshi until a new decision is made.
- The tribunal said the approving authority cannot disregard the records of other shortlisted scientists and found no exceptional basis for preferring Joshi over senior Distinguished Scientist S. N. Naidu.
- It recorded that Joshi and Naidu scored 80 each, yet Naidu’s Distinguished Scientist rank and longer residency as Scientist ‘H’ weighed in his favor under established criteria.
- The order flagged SOP changes and opaque committee minutes, including a cut in required residual service and alphabetical recommendations, even as BrahMos pursues major domestic orders and export deals.