![Former Chief Statistician Dr. T.C.A. Anant Appointed Technical Consultant to National Task Force: Supreme Court in Amit Kumar v. Union of India [2026 INSC 128]](/assets/images/article-criminal.svg)
Quick Answer: The Supreme Court allowed an application by the Amicus Curiae and directed that Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, be appointed Technical Consultant to the National Task Force for comprehensive and scientific analysis of the survey data. The Ministry of Education must pass the appointment order at the earliest and give him support, data access and remuneration as per prevalent norms.
In Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. (2026 INSC 128), the Supreme Court, on an interlocutory application in Criminal Appeal No. 1425 of 2025, directed the appointment of Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, as Technical Consultant to the National Task Force for the analysis of survey data (paras 2–3). The Ministry of Education, Union of India, was directed to pass the appointment order at the earliest and to extend administrative support, infrastructure, data access and remuneration or honorarium as per prevalent norms (para 3). A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan disposed of the application (para 4).
Status: Interlocutory Application No. 25652 of 2026 disposed of with directions for the appointment of a Technical Consultant to the National Task Force (paras 3–4).
Headnote: Technical Consultant to the National Task Force
Supreme Court – Interlocutory application in a criminal appeal – National Task Force – Appointment of Technical Consultant – Analysis of survey data – Directions to the Ministry of Education, Union of India – Administrative support, infrastructure, data access and honorarium.
Held: (i) Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, is to be appointed Technical Consultant to the National Task Force for comprehensive and scientific analysis of the survey data (para 3(i)).
(ii) The Ministry of Education, Union of India, shall pass an order of appointment at the earliest (para 3(ii)).
(iii) The Ministry shall extend all necessary administrative support, in particular infrastructure and data access (para 3(iii)).
(iv) The Ministry shall provide appropriate remuneration/honorarium to Dr. Anant in accordance with prevalent norms (para 3(iii)).
(v) The directions were issued after hearing the Amicus Curiae and the Additional Solicitor General for the Union of India, and grant the prayers made in the application (paras 1–3).
(vi) With these directions, the interlocutory application stands disposed of (para 4).
(paras 1–4)
Case Details: Amit Kumar v. Union of India (2026 INSC 128)
Final Outcome: Interlocutory application disposed of; Dr. T.C.A. Anant directed to be appointed Technical Consultant to the National Task Force, with support and honorarium from the Ministry of Education (paras 3–4).
Case: Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 128
Case No.: Interlocutory Application No. 25652 of 2026 in Criminal Appeal No. 1425 of 2025
Court: Supreme Court of India (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) – Reportable
Date of Decision: 6 February 2026
Bench: Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan (order; no named author)
Relevant Acts & Sections: No statutory provision is cited in the order; directions issued on an interlocutory application
Impugned Order: Not applicable – interlocutory application in a pending/decided criminal appeal
Counsel: Ms. Aparna Bhat, Amicus Curiae; Mr. K.M. Nataraj, Additional Solicitor General, for the Union of India (para 1)
Source: Supreme Court of India (official website)
Key Holdings of the Supreme Court
- Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, is to be appointed Technical Consultant to the National Task Force (para 3(i)).
- The purpose of the appointment is comprehensive and scientific analysis of the survey data (paras 2, 3(i)).
- The Ministry of Education, Union of India, must pass the appointment order at the earliest (para 3(ii)).
- The Ministry must provide administrative support, infrastructure and data access (para 3(iii)).
- Remuneration/honorarium is to be paid in accordance with prevalent norms (para 3(iii)).
Brief Facts of the Case
The matter arises in Criminal Appeal No. 1425 of 2025, Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., in which a National Task Force is examining survey data (paras 2–3).
By Interlocutory Application No. 25652 of 2026, a prayer was made to appoint Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, as Technical Consultant to the National Task Force for comprehensive and scientific analysis of the survey data (para 2).
The application also sought a direction to the Ministry of Education, Union of India, to extend administrative support, infrastructure and data access, and to provide remuneration/honorarium to Dr. Anant as per prevalent norms or as fixed by the Court (para 2).
The Court heard Ms. Aparna Bhat, Amicus Curiae, and Mr. K.M. Nataraj, Additional Solicitor General for the Union of India (para 1).
Issues Before the Supreme Court
- Whether Dr. T.C.A. Anant should be appointed Technical Consultant to the National Task Force for analysis of the survey data (paras 2–3).
- What support and remuneration the Ministry of Education should provide for the consultancy (paras 2, 3(iii)).
Court's Findings and Reasoning
Appointment of Technical Consultant (para 3(i)): Accepting the first prayer, the Court directed that Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, be appointed Technical Consultant to the National Task Force for comprehensive and scientific analysis of the survey data.
Order of appointment (para 3(ii)): The Ministry of Education, Union of India, was directed to pass the order of appointment at the earliest.
Support and data access (para 3(iii)): The Ministry was directed to extend all necessary administrative support, more particularly infrastructure and data access.
Remuneration (para 3(iii)): The Ministry was directed to provide appropriate remuneration/honorarium to Dr. Anant in accordance with prevalent norms. The order does not fix any specific amount.
Disposal (para 4): With these directions, the interlocutory application was disposed of.
Final Outcome and Directions
- Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, to be appointed Technical Consultant to the National Task Force (para 3(i)).
- Ministry of Education, Union of India, to pass the order of appointment at the earliest (para 3(ii)).
- Ministry to extend administrative support, infrastructure and data access (para 3(iii)).
- Ministry to pay appropriate remuneration/honorarium in accordance with prevalent norms (para 3(iii)).
- Interlocutory Application No. 25652 of 2026 disposed of (para 4).
Legal Principle Laid Down
The order lays down no new legal principle. It records the Supreme Court's exercise of its power to issue directions in a pending matter, so that a National Task Force constituted in the proceedings has expert technical help for scientific analysis of survey data, with the Union Ministry concerned bearing the support and honorarium (paras 2–4).
Precedents Relied Upon
No precedents were cited or relied upon in this order.
Important Paragraphs of the Judgment
Verbatim extracts from the order. For the full text, refer to the order PDF below.
Para 1: "Heard Ms. Aparna Bhat, the learned Amicus Curiae and Mr. K.M. Nataraj, the learned Additional Solicitor General for the Union of India."
Para 3(i): "Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India be appointed as Technical Consultant to the National Task Force for the purpose of comprehensive and scientific analysis of the survey data."
Para 3(ii): "The Ministry of Education, Union of India shall pass an order of appointment of Dr. T.C.A. Anant at the earliest."
Para 3(iii): "We also direct the Ministry of Education, Union of India to extend all necessary administrative support, more particularly the infrastructure & data access and to provide appropriate remuneration/honorarium to Dr. Anant in accordance with prevalent norms."
Para 4: "With the aforesaid directions, this interlocutory application stands disposed of accordingly."
Practical Impact of the Ruling
- For the National Task Force: It gains a Technical Consultant for comprehensive and scientific analysis of the survey data (para 3(i)).
- For the Ministry of Education: It must issue the appointment order at the earliest and fund support, data access and honorarium (para 3(ii)–(iii)).
- For court-monitored bodies: The order shows the Court acting on an Amicus Curiae's application to strengthen the technical capacity of a body working under its supervision (paras 1–3).
FAQs on Technical Consultant to the National Task Force
1. What did the Supreme Court decide in Amit Kumar v. Union of India (2026 INSC 128)?
It directed the appointment of Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, as Technical Consultant to the National Task Force (para 3(i)).
2. Why was a Technical Consultant appointed?
For comprehensive and scientific analysis of the survey data (paras 2, 3(i)).
3. Who must issue the appointment order?
The Ministry of Education, Union of India, at the earliest (para 3(ii)).
4. Will the consultant be paid?
Yes. The Ministry must provide appropriate remuneration/honorarium in accordance with prevalent norms; the order fixes no amount (para 3(iii)).
5. Who appeared before the Court?
Ms. Aparna Bhat as Amicus Curiae and Mr. K.M. Nataraj, Additional Solicitor General, for the Union of India (para 1).
Keywords: 2026 INSC 128, Amit Kumar v. Union of India, National Task Force, Technical Consultant, Dr. T.C.A. Anant, former Chief Statistician of India, survey data analysis, Ministry of Education, interlocutory application, Criminal Appeal No. 1425 of 2025, Amicus Curiae Aparna Bhat, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, Justice R. Mahadevan, Supreme Court order
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Download Judgment PDF – Amit Kumar v. Union of India
Source: Supreme Court of India (official website).