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Delhi High Court
Jeevan Bima Vikas Adhikari Cghs Ltd & Ors vs Registrar Of Cooperative Societies on 21 January, 2026
Author: Prathiba M. Singh
Bench: Prathiba M. Singh
$~48
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Date of decision: 21st January, 2026
Uploaded on: 23rd January, 2026
+ W.P.(C) 14439/2025 & CM APPL. 80127/2025
JEEVAN BIMA VIKAS ADHIKARI CGHS LTD & ORS.
.....Petitioners
Through: Mr. V.K. Gulati, Mr. Hemant Gulati
and Ms. Rashmi Gulati, Advs.
Ms. Nujhat Naseem, Adv.
versus
REGISTRAR OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES .....Respondent
Through: Mrs Avnish Ahlawat SC GNCTD
Services, Mr Uday Singh Ahlawat,
Mrs Tania Ahlawat, Mr Nitesh Kumar
Singh, Ms Aliza Alam, Mr Mohnish
Sehrawat
Mr. Sameer Vashisht, SC for GNCTD.
Ms. Urvi Mohan, Adv. for RCS.
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUSTICE MADHU JAIN
Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)
1 his hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
2. In the present petition, vide order dated 24th December, 2025, this Court
had expressed its anguish regarding the large number of vacancies in the
office of the Registrar Cooperative Societies (hereinafter, 'RCS') and had
given stringent directions to ensure that all the vacant posts are immediately
filled up by the GNCTD.
3. The Court had also directed that any non-compliance of the orders
passed by the Court would be viewed as contempt by the RCS, as also by the
Secretary (Services), as there has been substantial delay in the processing of
NOCs, dealing with complaints of members of societies, making references
of claims to arbitration,etc.
4. Thereafter, on the last date of hearing i.e. on 13th January, 2026, the
Court noted that the matter required immediate attention of the Court and
issued the following directions:
"17. It is made clear that this matter requires immediate
attention. As noted in the previous order, most of the writ
petitions relating to cooperative societies, which are being
filed before this Court are due to delays in the RCS office or
due to the RCS officials not taking timely action. This position
cannot be condoned any further.
18. In view of the submissions made today, let the
Secretary(Services)join the proceedings virtually on the next
date of hearing and inform the Court as to how many of the
officials extracted above have actually joined the office.
19. Insofar as newly impleaded members and one of the
earlier members whose documents are yet to be processed are
concerned, let all the members appear before the RCS office
along with their requisite records.
20. The President/Secretary shall also appear and confirm
their membership and give an NOC as well.
21. The RCS shall then forward the names and recommend
allotment in favour of the said members to the DDA in
accordance with law."
5. Today, an updated affidavit has been submitted by ld. Counsel Ms.
Ahlawat, on behalf of Additional Chief Secretary (Services), GNCTD, giving
the status of the vacant posts and the posts which are now being filled up at
the RCS office. The said affidavit is taken on record. The latest status of the
same is as under:
6. A perusal of the above would show that with the intervention of this
Court, some posts have been filled at the RCS office and the officers are stated
to have joined their posts as well. Insofar as Junior Assistants and ASOs are
concerned, there are a substantial number of vacancies.
7. On the last date, the Secretary (Services) was directed to join
proceedings virtually. Today, however, the Court is informed that there is no
Officer who is presently functioning as Secretary (Services), but Mr. Ajay
Kumar Bisht, who is the Special Secretary (Services) has joined the
proceedings virtually.
8. Upon query, Mr. Ajay Kumar Bisht submits that in so far as the Junior
Assistants and ASOs are concerned, the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection
Board (hereinafter, 'DSSSB') is in the process of recruiting them. However,
due to some pending litigations and other impediments, the recruitment
process is not proceeding in an expeditious manner. He further states that
steps are being taken to use the services of contractual staff in the form of
Data Entry Operators and retired government servants in these positions, until
proper recruitment takes place.
9. It is also submitted that the status of work in the RCS Office ought to
substantially improve with the services of Senior Assistants, etc, who have all
been now appointed and who are stated to have joined as well.
10. The Court notes that the joining of several officers is still pending, as
can be seen from the table extracted above.
11. In so far as the posts of Stenographers and Junior Assistants are
concerned, bearing in mind the submission made by the Special Secretary
(Services), let the RCS Office take steps for filling these positions of Junior
Assistants/Stenographers/ASOs to the extent of about 50% through
contractual employees/DEOs.
12. The RCS Office is also free to appoint retired government officials on
a contractual basis. For this purpose, four weeks' time is granted to the RCS
Office who shall now file an updated status report of all the officials who have
joined the office, and also the process of recruitment of the contractual staff.
13. Further, let Ms. Ahlawat, ld. Counsel obtained a status report from the
DSSSB in respect of regular employment of ASOs, Stenographers and Junior
Assistants, both at the stage of the RCS office, as also the overall vacancies
in the Delhi Government Offices.
14. Further the status report shows that 53% of the government jobs in
Delhi Government are vacant, which would clearly affect the efficient
functioning of the Delhi Government. Accordingly, let an updated status
report be also filed in this regard by Ms. Ahlawat, ld. Counsel.
15. In addition, the Special Secretary (Services) shall continue to join the
proceedings virtually, unless directed otherwise.
16. Further, with respect to the facts of the petition, the submission on
behalf of the Petitioners is that in terms of paragraph 19 of the order dated
13th January, 2026, as extracted above, the members have repeatedly
approached the RCS Office, but no appointment has been fixed for
appearance.
17. Considering the large number of RCS matters which are listed before
this Court on a daily basis, let one official from the RCS office, of a position
not lower than the Deputy Registrar be deputed on a daily basis, with the
proper status in all the matters listed before this Court so that no further delays
are caused.
18. This order shall be given effect from 27th January, 2026.
19. Insofar as the present case is concerned, the Petitioners shall appear
before the RCS office on 3rd February, 2026 at 11:30 AM, with all their
documents, along with the President/Secretary of the Society. Any
clarifications, if may be required by the RCS office, shall be obtained and the
forwarding of the names shall take place by 15th February, 2025.
20. List for hearing on 23rd March, 2026.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUDGE
MADHU JAIN
JUDGE
JANUARY 21, 2026
prg/ss
