In a significant legal development, the Telangana High Court has intervened to suspend an order from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that had nullified the appointment of Dr Jaiteerth R Joshi as the Director General of the prestigious Indo-Russian missile venture, BrahMos. The interim stay, granted on Wednesday, provides a temporary reprieve for Dr Joshi and the central government, reigniting a debate over the selection process for one of India's most sensitive defence positions.
The Legal Tussle Over a Strategic Appointment
The controversy stems from the appointment of Dr Jaiteerth Joshi as BrahMos DG on November 25, 2024. This appointment was challenged before the Hyderabad bench of the CAT by Dr Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu, a distinguished scientist with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), who was also shortlisted for the role. In a ruling on December 29, 2025, the CAT set aside Dr Joshi's appointment, citing "manifest arbitrariness" in the decision-making process by the Centre and the DRDO chairman.
The CAT had directed the authorities to reconsider Dr Naidu's claim for the post within four weeks and to appoint an in-charge to head BrahMos other than Dr Joshi in the interim. However, a division bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin, has now put this operative part of the CAT order on hold.
Arguments Presented in the High Court
Appearing for the Union of India, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the selection, arguing that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed to identify the "most suitable" candidate, not merely the most senior or meritorious. A key point of contention was the tenure of service. Mehta submitted that Dr Joshi, the selected candidate, had a residual service of six years, compared to Dr Naidu's 17 months, which was a consideration for ensuring leadership stability.
Mehta emphasised that both candidates held the rank of Scientist-H, meeting the basic qualification, and that choosing a 'Distinguished Scientist' (a title held by Dr Naidu) over others was not mandated by the advertisement or SOP. He also stressed that the original petition before the CAT contained no allegations of favouritism or malafide intent.
Senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy, representing Dr Joshi, underscored the strategic and sensitive nature of the BrahMos DG post. He argued that possessing qualifications beyond the essentials does not automatically make one the most suitable candidate for a role requiring high technical acumen, managerial prowess, and leadership to achieve organisational objectives.
Next Steps and Implications
The Telangana High Court has granted four weeks to Dr Naidu to file his reply to the petitions challenging the CAT order. Subsequently, the Union of India and Dr Joshi will have an additional two weeks to submit their replies. The court has adjourned the matter for further hearing, leaving the final resolution pending.
This case highlights the complex interplay between seniority, specialised qualifications, and subjective assessment of suitability for top-tier strategic positions within India's defence establishment. The High Court's interim order allows Dr Joshi to continue in his role, at least for now, while the legal battle over the interpretation of the selection process continues to unfold.
