The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has annulled the appointment of Jaiteerth R. Joshi as Director General of BrahMos Aerospace, citing an arbitrary selection process that disregarded the seniority and qualifications of Sivasubramanyam Nambi Naidu, a DRDO Distinguished Scientist. The tribunal emphasized the importance of seniority and merit in government appointments and directed the Ministry of Defence and DRDO to reassess Naidu’s candidacy within four weeks. This ruling raises significant concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of the selection processes within the DRDO, which plays a crucial role in India’s defense capabilities and collaborations in the evolving geopolitical landscape.