Archive · 30 Dec 2025
CAT Quashes BrahMos Chief Appointment
The Central Administrative Tribunal in Hyderabad has canceled the appointment of Dr. Jaiteerth R. Joshi as the head of BrahMos Aerospace, a company that makes a special kind of missile.
The tribunal said that the company should pick someone else for the job within four weeks.
Another scientist, Dr. Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu, said he should have gotten the job because he is more senior and has more experience.
The tribunal agreed that the selection process was not fair and needs to be redone.
The current head, Dr. Joshi, has a lot of experience, but the tribunal thought Dr. Naidu was a better choice.
The company defended their choice, but the tribunal decided to cancel it and start over.
The tribunal also said that seniority, promotion, and pay level, which are obtained by hard work and integrity, cannot be ignored in government service.
The government can challenge this order in the high court.
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Hyderabad Bench quashed the appointment of Dr. Jaiteerth R. Joshi as Director General of BrahMos Aerospace.
The tribunal directed authorities to reconsider the selection process for the post within four weeks.
Dr. Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu, a Distinguished Scientist at DRDO, challenged the appointment, citing superior seniority and merit.
The tribunal criticized the selection process, emphasizing Dr. Naidu's earlier service in Level-15 positions compared to Dr. Joshi.
DRDO defended the appointment, arguing that seniority was not the sole criterion and that the post was a transfer without additional financial benefits.
- Who
- Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Hyderabad Bench
- What
- Quashed the appointment of Dr. Jaiteerth R. Joshi as Director General of BrahMos Aerospace
- When
- 29 December 2025
- Where
- Hyderabad, India
- Why
- Due to a challenge brought by Dr. Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu, who argued he was overlooked despite superior seniority, merit, and experience
Dr. Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu
Ministry of Defence (MoD) and DRDO
Seniority and Merit
Dr. Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu
Dr. Naidu argued that he was the most senior and meritorious candidate, having served in Level-15 positions and being a Distinguished Scientist, which is a higher rank than Dr. Joshi's Outstanding Scientist.
Ministry of Defence (MoD) and DRDO
The MoD and DRDO defended the appointment, stating that seniority is not the sole criterion and that the selection process involves considering various factors beyond just seniority.
Selection Process
Dr. Sivasubramaniam Nambi Naidu
Dr. Naidu's petition accused the MoD and DRDO of ignoring his seniority and experience by selecting Joshi, citing manifest arbitrariness in the decision.
Ministry of Defence (MoD) and DRDO
The MoD and DRDO argued that the selection process is designed to choose the most suitable candidate from a pool, not necessarily the most senior, and that the DRDO Chairman has the authority to deploy any senior scientist as DG without issuing an advertisement or following the standard selection process.
- Date of Ruling
- 29 December 2025
- Original Application Number
- OA No.021/02253 of 2024
- Appointment Date of Dr Joshi
- 1 December 2024
- Promotion Date of Dr Naidu
- 7 October 2024
- Tribunal Members
- Dr Lata Baswaraj Patne and Varun Sindhu Kul Kaumudi
- Decision Date
- 6 November 2025
- Reconsideration Period
- 4 weeks from the date of receipt of the order
- Number of Applicants
- 8
- Selection Committee Members
- Chairman, Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), Director, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Vishakapatnam; Vice Chancellor, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) and Director General, HR, DRDO HQ
