BrahMos chief: HC to hear tribunal order challenge in June

Hyderabad: Telangana high court will hear on June 15 petitions challenging an order of Central Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad bench, that suspended director general, BrahMos on Dec 29.High court had in Jan ordered an interim suspension of the tribunal order and directed counters to be filed in the matter. When the matter came up for hearing on Monday before a bench comprising Justices P Sam Koshy and Narsing Rao Nandikonda, counsels for both parties, after making submissions, sought time for making further submissions. Accepting the request, the bench adjourned the matter for further hearing.During a previous hearing, the bench had recorded that a counter-affidavit had been filed by Dr Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu, distinguished scientist, DRDO.The bench was hearing petitions filed by the Union govt and Dr Jaiteerth Joshi, outstanding scientist, DRDL, challenging the tribunal's order suspending Joshi as DG, BrahMos.Naidu had challenged Joshi's appointment as DG BrahMos before the tribunal, claiming that Joshi had superseded him despite being the senior-most candidate. Naidu claimed that he was seven years senior to Joshi and has served as an outstanding scientist since 2017.Disposing of Naidu's petition, the tribunal issued orders suspending Joshi and directed the Union defence ministry to appoint an in charge in his place, till a final decision was made.