HC sets aside CAT order, upholds BrahMos chief’s appointment | Hyderabad News

RevisedHyderabad: In a big relief to BrahMos Aerospace director general Jaiteerth R Joshi, the Telangana high court on Tuesday set aside a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Hyderabad, order that had suspended his appointment. The high court order has paved the way for him to continue at the helm of India’s flagship supersonic missile programme.Following extensive hearings involving the defence ministry, Joshi and senior scientist Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu, who had challenged Joshi’s appointment before the CAT, a bench comprising Justices P Sam Koshy and Narsing Rao Nandikonda passed final orders in the open court quashing the tribunal’s decision. With this, the court disposed of two petitions filed by the Union govt and Joshi challenging the CAT order. The full order is yet to be made public.Joshi was suspended in an order on Dec 29, 2025 by the CAT. He was appointed as the DG on Nov 25, 2024. In Jan, a division bench of the high court had ordered an interim suspension on the CAT order, enabling Joshi to remain in office pending adjudication of the matter.BrahMos Aerospace is a strategic Indo-Russian joint venture engaged in the design, development and marketing of the BrahMos supersonic missile system. India holds a 50.5% stake in the venture, while Russian entities hold the remaining 49.5%.Joshi’s appointment was challenged by DRDO scientist Nambi Naidu, who contended that he had been superseded despite being the senior-most candidate for the post. Nambi Naidu is seven years senior to Joshi and has been serving as a scientist since 2017.Appearing for the Union govt, additional solicitor general B Narasimha Sharma argued that Joshi’s appointment was a transfer to a different wing and not a promotion. He also relied on judicial precedents to contend that courts should not interfere in public employment selections or substitute their views for those of an expert selection committee.Counsel for Nambi Naidu argued that he was the senior-most eligible candidate, had been promoted as a distinguished scientist before the vacancy reference date and possessed an impeccable service record, including Prime Minister’s medals and several other awards.