Overview
- Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin granted four weeks to S. Nambi Naidu and two weeks to the Union of India and Jaiteerth R. Joshi to file replies before the next hearing.
- The stay pauses the CAT’s directions that had quashed Joshi’s appointment, ordered a four‑week reconsideration of Naidu’s claim, and required an interim in‑charge not including Joshi.
- The Hyderabad bench of the CAT on December 29 had found “manifest arbitrariness” in the selection and set aside the appointment of Joshi as Director General of BrahMos Aerospace.
- The government told the court the process involved screening, interviews and a three‑name panel, after which the DDR&D secretary and DRDO chairman selected Joshi in late November 2024; he took charge on December 1, 2024.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued residual service was a valid factor, noting Joshi has about six years left versus roughly 17 months for Naidu, and counsel described the DG role as strategic and suitability‑driven rather than strictly seniority‑based.