₹5 Lakh Cost Imposed on Union Government for Blocking IRS Officer’s ITAT Appointment for a Decade, Court Calls It ‘Targeted Vendetta’: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India has imposed a cost of ₹5 lakh on the Union Government for what it described as rank procrastination, deliberate obstruction, and departmental vendetta in denying appointment to a selected candidate for the post of Member (Accountant), Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The Court held that the conduct of the authorities caused grave injustice to the petitioner and violated the principles of natural justice. Bench and…