$~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 W.P.(C) 14439/2025 Page 1 of 2