PGIMER Professor’s Resignation Rejection Quashed Without President’s Approval; Fresh Decision Due In Three Weeks

The applicant, a Professor at PGIMER, applied on 18 February 2026 for voluntary retirement on three months’ notice or, alternatively, resignation on the same notice period.

PGIMER rejected the request by orders dated 10 March 2026 and 9 May 2026, citing insufficient qualifying service for voluntary retirement and work exigencies and faculty shortages in relation to resignation.

During the proceedings, the applicant withdrew his claims concerning voluntary retirement and pension; the Tribunal considered only the challenge concerning resignation.

The original record showed that the matter had been processed only up to the Director and had not been placed before the President of PGIMER.

Whether the orders rejecting the applicant’s resignation were made by, or with the approval of, the competent authority.

If not, whether those orders should be set aside and the resignation request reconsidered by the competent authority.

Under Schedule I, item 67 of the PGIMER Rules and Regulations, the Director has full power to accept resignations of Group ‘A’ employees except Professors and Additional Professors; the President has full power in cases involving Professors and Additional Professors.

An administrative decision made without the approval of the authority designated as competent under the applicable rules is liable to be set aside and reconsidered by that authority.

The applicant was a Professor, so item 67 assigned the power to accept his resignation to the President, not the Director.

The original record established that the matter had not been placed before the President, although the impugned orders purported to have been issued with competent-authority approval.

Because the required approval was absent, the rejection of the resignation request was procedurally defective.

The Tribunal therefore ordered reconsideration by the President, without deciding whether the resignation should ultimately be accepted.

It directed the Senior Administrative Officer to place the resignation case before the President of PGIMER for fresh consideration and a reasoned, speaking order within three weeks of receipt of a certified copy of the judgment.

The Tribunal expressed no view on the merits of the resignation request; the Original Application was disposed of with no order as to costs.