The Delhi High Court on March 19, 2026, issued notice to the Centre and Prof. Unnat P. Pandit, the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), on a plea seeking his removal from the post.
The plea has been filed by the All India Patent Officers’ Welfare Association (AIPOWA), which has challenged Prof. Pandit’s appointment as “illegal and arbitrary.” The association alleges that the appointment of Prof. Unnat P. Pandit as CGPDTM violated prescribed government norms and eligibility criteria.
Key grounds raised in the petition include:
– The selection process deviated from Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines, including the failure to issue an open advertisement as required.
– Prof. Pandit allegedly lacked the mandatory five years of Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs)/Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) needed for such deputation-based appointments.
– Irregularities in the composition of the Search Committee and the decision to proceed without a fresh advertisement.
– The appointment was made for a five-year term, whereas DoPT norms prescribe an initial tenure of three years, extendable by up to two more years.
The High Court took note of a Supreme Court order directing it to decide the matter expeditiously and has now issued notice to the respondents. The case has been listed for further hearing in May 2026.
The petition is being represented by Advocate Gyanant Kumar Singh.