The Delhi High Court on Friday set aside the proceedings initiated by the Lokpal of India against Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and others in connection with alleged irregularities in promotions at the National Productivity Council (NPC). 

A Division Bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidynathan Shankar passed the order.

The case stemmed from a complaint alleging irregularities in promotions conducted by the NPC on March 28, 2023. The Lokpal had issued notices to Rajesh Kumar Singh and others in connection with this case in January this year.

The Lokpal order was then challenged by Singh and other petitioners before the High Court. In March this year, the Court had stayed the proceedings.

The petitioners contended that the promotions in question occurred before Rajesh Kumar Singh assumed the role of Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), on April 21, 2023.

They added that the Lokpal’s actions were beyond its jurisdiction since the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, mandates that complaints must involve allegations of corruption or offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

They maintained that allegations of irregularities in promotions would not fall within this ambit.

Rajesh Kumar Singh is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1989 Kerala cadre. He has held several key government positions, including Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

On November 1, 2024, he was appointed as the 40th Defence Secretary of India, succeeding Giridhar Aramane. Throughout his career, Singh has been involved in various administrative and policy-making roles within the Indian government.

Rajesh Kumar Singh was represented by Senior Advocate Vikas Singh and advocates Varun Singh, Deepeika Kalia, Kajal Gupta,  Somesa Gupta and Sudeep Chandra.