Closure of original application as withdrawn upon being rendered infructuous.

The applicant, Vishal K.S., applied for the post of Junior Technical Assistant (Geology), Group-B, in the Geological Survey of India following an advertisement by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) in February 2024.

After appearing for document verification in March 2025 [Annexure A5, p. 3] and engaging in several RTI inquiries regarding the recruitment process [Annexures A12-A15, p. 4], the applicant approached the Tribunal for relief.

When the matter came up for hearing on March 16, 2026, the counsel for the applicant submitted that the application had become infructuous and sought leave to withdraw the proceedings.

Whether the applicant may be permitted to withdraw the Original Application on the ground that the matter has become infructuous.

The Tribunal applied the procedural principle allowing for the voluntary withdrawal of an application.

Under standard administrative law practice, if the grievance of the applicant is satisfied or the cause of action ceases to exist (rendered infructuous), the applicant may seek leave of the court to withdraw the matter, leading to its closure without a determination on merits.

The Tribunal’s decision was based on the oral submission of the applicant’s counsel.

The court observed that the counsel identified the matter as infructuous—meaning it no longer presented a live legal controversy for the court to resolve.

Upon the specific request for leave to withdraw the Original Application, the Tribunal granted the permission as a matter of course, noting that the litigation need not proceed further if the applicant no longer intends to pursue the claim.

The Original Application was formally closed as withdrawn, and the court ordered that no costs be imposed on either party.