NEW DELHI: HL November 03, 2026
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has reportedly termed the appointment of Dr Deepak Joshi as Director of the Sports Injury Centre (SIC) at Safdarjung Hospital illegal and arbitrary. According to the available details, the tribunal directed that interim charge of the Director’s post be assigned to a senior officer until a regular appointment is made.
In the latest developments, the Head of the Orthopaedics Department is currently holding charge of the SIC Director’s post. Meanwhile, interviews for the regular appointment of the Director are scheduled to take place on November 6, 2026.
The developments come amid questions over the appointment process, seniority, eligibility and the selection criteria followed for the position.
Appointment of Dr Deepak Joshi Challenged Before CAT
Dr Deepak Joshi was appointed Director of the Sports Injury Centre on October 31, 2023, for a stipulated three-year tenure ending on October 31, 2026.
Dr Ravindra Singhal and Dr Devendra Singh challenged the appointment process before the Central Administrative Tribunal, raising questions concerning seniority, eligibility and the procedure followed during the selection.
The matter was heard by a bench comprising CAT Chairman Justice Ranjit More and Member Rajinder Kashyap.
According to the available details, Dr Ravindra Singhal was placed at serial number 377 in the seniority list, Dr Devendra Singh at 408 and Dr Deepak Joshi at 505. The petitioners questioned whether the claims and eligibility of senior officers had been adequately considered during the appointment process.
Questions Over Seniority and Selection Criteria
The dispute brings the appointment procedure and compliance with applicable recruitment rules into focus. Appointments to government positions must follow the prescribed qualifications, experience requirements and selection criteria.
However, seniority alone does not automatically confer entitlement to a particular post. The appointment must be assessed in accordance with the applicable service rules and the prescribed selection procedure.
The tribunal proceedings have therefore brought renewed attention to the process through which the SIC Director is selected and the requirements that candidates must satisfy.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the concerned authorities will need to ensure that the selection proceeds in accordance with the applicable rules and the tribunal’s directions.
