Gopal Singh and Others v. The Bhakra Beas Management Board and Others

CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-1-o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo 266o(3oCases)?270?271?275?249o o o o o o o 1)o o o o o o o CWP-9237-2023o o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o15.11.2023o GopaloSinghoandoOtherso o o o o oooooooooo,Petitionerso Versuso TheoBhakraoBeasoManagementoBoardoandoOthersooooo ooooooo,Respondentso Witho 2)o o o o o o o CWP-5165-2022o JagtaroSinghoandoOtherso o o o o oooooooooo,Petitionerso Versuso StateoofoPunjaboandoOthersooooooooooooo o o o ooooooo,Respondentso Witho o 3)o o o o o o o CWP-12589-2023o JarnailoSinghoandoOtherso o o o o oooooooooo,Petitionerso Versuso BhakraoBeasoManagementoBoardoandoOthersoooooo ooooooo,Respondentso Witho 4)o o o o o o o CWP-20305-2022o SuniloDuttoandoOtherso o o o o o oooooooooo,Petitionerso Versuso BhakraoBeasoManagementoBoardoandoAnotheroooo ooooooo,Respondentso CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-2-o o o Witho 5)o o o o o o o CWP-29111-2022o KirandeepoSinghoandoOthersooo o o o oooooooooo,Petitionerso Versuso BhakraoBeasoManagementoBoardoandoAnotheroooo ooooooo,Respondentso Witho 6)o o o o o o o CWP-11413-2023o(O&M)o ArunoSinghoandoOthersoo o o o o oooooooooo,Petitionerso Versuso BhakraoBeasoManagementoBoardoandoOthersoooooo ooooooo,Respondentso Ando 7)o o o o o o o CWP-6119-2021o JagseeroRamoandoOtherso o o o o oooooooooo,Petitionerso Versuso StateoofoPunjaboandoOtherso o o o o ooooooo,Respondentso CORAM:oooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoJAGMOHANoBANSALo Present:-oo Mr.oR.K.oArora,oAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oJugamoArora,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.oSagunaoArora,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionersoo o o (inoCWP-9237-2023)o o o Mr.oR.S.oBains,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oAmarjeet,oAdvocateoforopetitionerso oo o (inoCWP-5165-2022)oo Mr.oB.D.oRana,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionersoo o o (inoCWP-12589-2023)o CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-3-o o o Mr.oVarunoSharma,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionerso (inoCWP-20305-2022,oCWP-29111-2022o&oCWP-11413-2023)o Mr.oRajeshoGarg,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo Ms.oNehaoMatharoooAdvocateoandoo Ms.oMandeepoSingh,oAdvocateoforoBBMBo Mr.oRameshoChandoSharma,oSenioroPaneloCounsel,oo foroUnionoofoIndia-respondentoo Mr.oDeepanjayoSharma,oDAG,oPunjaboo Mr.oRamanoSharma,oAddl.oA.G.oHaryanaoo o o o ***o JAGMOHANoBANSAL,oJ.o(Oral)o

1.k o Asotheoissueoinvolvedoisocommon,owithotheoconsentoofocontestingo parties,oallotheocaptionedopetitionsoareodisposedoofobyothisocommonoorder.oForo theosakeoofobrevityoandoconvenience,ofactsoareoborrowedofromoCWPoNo.9237o ofo2023.o

2.k oo TheopetitionersothroughoinstantopetitionounderoArticleso226/227oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndiaoisoseekingosettingoasideoofoordersodatedo10.03.2023o (AnnexureoP-21),o15.03.2023o(AnnexureoP-22)oando21.03.2023o(AnnexureoP-23)o wherebyo representationso ofo theo petitionerso foro regularizationo ofo theiro serviceohaveobeenorejected.oo

3.k o TheoBhakraoBeasoManagementoBoardo(foroshorto'Board')othrougho itso Centralizedo Staffo Selectiono Committeeo video Advertisemento No.2/2014o invitedoapplicationsoforotheorecruitmentoofovariousopostsoofoFireman,oElectricalo Mistri/Electrician,o Hoisto Operator,o Driverso etc.o Allo theseo postso fallo ino theo categoryoofoClassoIIIo&oIVoemployees.oTheopetitionersopursuantotooaforesaido advertisemento appliedo foro theo postso ofo Firemano ando Electricalo Mistri/Electrician.o Theo petitionerso cameo too beo selectedo aftero followingo dueo procedureo i.e.o theo procedureo whicho iso followedo foro recruitmento ofo regularo CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-4-o o o employees.oInotheoadvertisementoasowelloasoappointmentoletter,oitowasojottedo downothatoappointmentoisoforooneoyearoonocontractobasisoandocontractowouldobeo extendedofromotimeotootime,oifonecessary.oTheopetitionersojoinedoasocontractualo employeesoandotheirocontractowasoextendedofromotimeotootime.oTheopetitionerso areoperformingotechnicalojob.oItoisoaptotoomentionohereothatothereoareodifferento StatesowhichoareopartneroofotheoBoard.oEveryoStateoisohavingorepresentationoino theoBoardoapartofromorepresentativeoofoGovt.oofoIndia.oTheoBoardoisomakingo directoappointmentoofo33%oemployeesoandoremainingoemployeesocomeofromo partneroStatesoi.e.oPunjab,oHaryana,oHimachaloPradeshoandoRajasthan.o

4.k oo Theopetitioners,oafterocompletingo3oyearsoofoservice,orequestedotheo Boardo too considero theiro caseo foro regularization.o Theo Boardo ino itso differento meetingso consideredo caseo ofo theo petitionerso foro regularization.o Ino everyo meeting,oitowasonoticedothatopetitionersoareotrainedoemployeesoandotheyohaveo beenoappointedoafterofollowingoprocedureoprescribedofororegularoappointmento andothereoisonooirregularityoinotheiroappointment.oOnoaccountoofoobjectionoofo oneooroanotheromember,otheomatterowasodeferred,ohowever,oitowasoresolvedothato emolumentsoofotheocontractualoemployeesoshallobeoincreased.oTheopetitionerso onoaccountoofonon-regularizationoofotheiroserviceoapproachedothisoCourtobyo wayoofoCWPoNo.27886oofo2022owhichocameotoobeodisposedoofovideoorderodatedo

05.12.2022o(AnnexureoP-20).oTheorespondent-Boardowasodirectedotoolookointoo grievanceoofotheopetitionersobyopassingoaospeakingoorder.oInocomplianceoofo orderoofothisoCourt,otheorespondent-Boardohasopassedoorderodatedo10.03.2023o (P-21)owherebyorequestoofotheopetitionersohasobeenodeclined.o CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-5-o o o

5.k oo Learnedocounselsoforotheopetitionersointeroaliaosubmitothatofromo theoperusaloofotheominutesoofotheoBoard'someeting,oitoisoquiteoevidentothato Boardo waso alwayso ofo theo opiniono thato serviceo ofo petitionerso shouldo beo regularized,o however,o finalo decisiono waso deferredo ono accounto ofo objectiono raisedobyooneooroanotheromember.oInotheoagendaoputoupobeforeotheoBoard,oitohaso beenoconsideredothatopetitionersoareotrainedoemployeesoandotheyohaveobeeno appointedo aftero followingo dueo process.o Thereo iso noo irregularityo ino theiro appointment,othus,otheyomayobeoconsideredofororegularization.oTheorespondent-BoardoisofollowingorulesoandoregulationsoframedobyoStateoofoPunjaboasowelloaso Punjabo Stateo Powero Corporationo Limitedo (foro shorto 'PSPCL'),o governingo recruitmentoandopayoscaleoofotheiroemployees.oTheoStateoofoPunjaboandoPSPCLo hasoregularizedotheiroemployeesoonocompletionoofo3oyearsocontractualoperiod.o Theo petitioners,o ono theo groundo ofo parity,o deserveo too beo regularized.o Theo petitionerso haveo beeno appointedo aftero followingo procedureo meanto foro theo appointmentooforegularoemployees.oLikeotheopetitioners,oappointmentsowereo madeobyorespondentsoino2019oandofromotheoperusaloofoadvertisementoofo2019o asowelloasoappointmentoletters,oitoisoevidentothatoexceptowritingoexpressiono 'contract'o ino theo caseo ofo petitioners,o thereo iso noo dichotomyo betweeno appointmentoofotheopetitioneroandoregularoemployees.oTheoregularoemployeeso wereoalsooinitiallyoappointedoonotemporaryobasis.oTheojudgmentoofoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinoStateoofoKarnatakaoandoOthersov.oUmadevioandoOthers,o

(2006)o4oSCCo1osupportsocaseoofotheopetitionersobecauseoappointmentoofotheo petitionerso waso madeo followingo regularo process.o Theo petitionerso wereo noto appointedobyobackodooroentry.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosaidojudgmentoreado as:-o CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-6-o o o "43.ooo oo Thus,o ito iso clearo thato adherenceo too theo ruleo ofo equalityo ino publico employmento iso ao basico featureo ofo ouro Constitutiono ando sinceo theo ruleo ofo lawo iso theo coreo ofo ouro Constitution,oaocourtowouldocertainlyobeodisabledofromopassingo anoorderoupholdingoaoviolationoofoArticleo14ooroinoorderingotheo overlookingo ofo theo needo too complyo witho theo requirementso ofo Articleo14oreadowithoArticleo16oofotheoConstitution.oTherefore,o consistentowithotheoschemeoforopublicoemployment,othisoCourto whileolayingodownotheolaw,ohasonecessarilyotooholdothatounlesso theoappointmentoisoinotermsoofotheorelevantorulesoandoafteroao properocompetitionoamongoqualifiedopersons,otheosameowouldo noto confero anyo righto ono theo appointee.o Ifo ito iso ao contractualo appointment,otheoappointmentocomesotooanoendoatotheoendoofotheo contract,o ifo ito wereo ano engagemento oro appointmento ono dailyo wagesoorocasualobasis,otheosameowouldocomeotooanoendowhenoito iso discontinued.o Similarly,o ao temporaryo employeeo couldo noto claimo too beo madeo permanento ono theo expiryo ofo hiso termo ofo appointment.oItohasoalsootoobeoclarifiedothatomerelyobecauseoao temporaryoemployeeooroaocasualowageoworkeroisocontinuedoforo aotimeobeyondotheotermoofohisoappointment,oheowouldonotobeo entitledotoobeoabsorbedoinoregularoserviceooromadeopermanent,o merelyo ono theo strengtho ofo sucho continuance,o ifo theo originalo appointmento waso noto madeo byo followingo ao dueo processo ofo selectionoasoenvisagedobyotheorelevantorules.oItoisonotoopenotoo theo courto too prevento regularo recruitmento ato theo instanceo ofo temporaryoemployeesowhoseoperiodoofoemploymentohasocomeotoo anoendooroofoadohocoemployeesowhoobyotheoveryonatureoofotheiro appointment,odoonotoacquireoanyoright.oTheoHighoCourtsoactingo undero Articleo 226o ofo theo Constitution,o shouldo noto ordinarilyo issueo directionso foro absorption,o regularisation,o oro permanento continuanceounlessotheorecruitmentoitselfowasomadeoregularlyo andoinotermsoofotheoconstitutionaloscheme.oMerelyobecauseoano employeeohadocontinuedounderocoveroofoanoorderoofotheocourt,o whicho weo haveo describedo aso "litigiouso employment"o ino theo earlieropartoofotheojudgment,oheowouldonotobeoentitledotooanyo rightotoobeoabsorbedooromadeopermanentoinotheoservice.oInofact,o CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-7-o o o inosuchocases,otheoHighoCourtomayonotobeojustifiedoinoissuingo interimodirections,osince,oafteroall,oifoultimatelyotheoemployeeo approachingoitoisofoundoentitledotoorelief,oitomayobeopossibleoforo ito too mouldo theo reliefo ino sucho ao mannero thato ultimatelyo noo prejudiceowillobeocausedotoohim,owhereasoanointerimodirectiono too continueo hiso employmento wouldo holdo upo theo regularo procedureoforoselectionooroimposeoonotheoStateotheoburdenoofo payingoanoemployeeowhooisoreallyonotorequired.oTheocourtsomusto beocarefuloinoensuringothatotheyodoonotointerfereoundulyowithotheo economico arrangemento ofo itso affairso byo theo Stateo oro itso instrumentalitieso oro lendo themselveso theo instrumentso too facilitateo theo bypassingo ofo theo constitutionalo ando statutoryo mandates."o

6.k o Perocontra,olearnedoSeniorocounselofororespondent-Boardosubmitso thatoitoisofactuallyocorrectothatopetitionersowereoappointedofollowingoregularo processo ando thereo waso noo irregularityo ino theiro appointment,o however,o theyo cannotobeoregularizedoonotheobasisooforegularizationoofoemployeesoofoPSPCLo andoStateoofoPunjabobecauseorespondent-Boardoisoanoautonomousobodyoandoito isonotoboundobyorulesoandoregulationsoframedoorofollowedobyoStateoofoPunjabooro PSPCL.oTheoBoardoisocompetentotoomakeoappointmentoofoitsoemployeesoono contractoasowelloasoregularobasis.oTheomatteroofotheopetitioners,ofromotimeotoo time,owasoconsideredobyoBoard,ohowever,oonoaccountoofolackoofoconsensuso betweenotheomembersoofotheoBoard,otheopetitionersowereonotoregularized.o

7.k oo Iohaveoheardotheoargumentsoofolearnedocounselsoforotheopartiesoando perusedotheorecordowithotheiroableoassistance.o

8.k oo Theo concededo positiono emergingo fromo theo recordo iso thato theo petitionerso wereo appointedo pursuanto too Advertisemento No.2o ofo 2014o ofo subsequentoadvertisements.oTheorespondent-Boardobeforeomakingoappointmento CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-8-o o o ofo petitionerso followedo allo theo ruleso ando regulationso whicho areo meanto foro appointmento ofo regularo employees.o Thereo waso noo irregularityo ino theo appointmentoofotheopetitioners.oInotheoadvertisementoasowelloasoappointmento letter,oitowasospecificallyomentionedothatoappointmentoisoonocontractobasisoforo oneoyear,oextendableoasoperorequirement.oTheoappointmentoofotheopetitionerso andootheroemployeesoonotemporaryobasisoagainstoAdvertisementoNo.1oofo2019o waso madeo followingo sameo process.o Theo mattero ofo theo petitionerso waso repeatedlyotakenoupobyoBoardoinoitsomeeting,ohowever,ofinalodecisionocouldonoto beo arrivedo ato dueo too lacko ofo consensus.o Theo Boardo thougho dido noto finallyo decideotheoquestionooforegularization,ohowever,osalaryoofotheopetitionersohaso beeno substantiallyo increased.o Theo respondent-Boardo iso followingo ruleso ando regulationsoframedobyoStateoofoPunjaboasowelloasoPSPCL,ohowever,oBoardo beingoautonomousobodyoisonotoboundotoofollowoallotheorulesoandoregulationo framedobyoStateoofoPunjaboasowelloasoPSPCL.oTheoStateoofoPunjaboasowelloaso PSPCL,ofromotimeotootime,ohasoregularizedotheiroemployeesowhoowereoinitiallyo appointedoonocontractobasis.oTheorespondentoisohavingo1922ovacantoposts.o

9.k oo Theopetitionersowereoappointedoduringo2015-18.oAllotheoeligibleo candidateso wereo freeo too participateo ino theo selectiono process.o Ao Selectiono CommitteeoofotheoBoardorecommendedoappointmentoofoallotheopetitionersoaftero followingodueoprocedureoprescribedoforoappointmentooforegularoemployees.oIno theoappointmentoletter,oitowasospecificallyomentionedothatotheoemployeeoshallo beo governedo byo Bhakrao Beaso Managemento BoardoClass-IIIo &o Class-IVo Employees'o (Recruitmento&oConditionsoofoService),oRegulations,o1994o (foro shorto'1994oRegulations')oasowelloasootherorulesoandoregulationsointroducedo andooptedobyoBoard.oTheopetitionersowereoinitiallyoappointedoforooneoyearoono CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-9-o o o contractobasisoandotheirocontractohasobeenoextendedofromotimeotootime.oTheo petitionerso areo workingo witho respondent-Boardo sinceo 2015o ando noo irregularity/derelictionoeitheroinotheiroappointmentoorotheiroactoandoconductohaso beenonoticed.oTheorespondent-Boardoisocompetentotoomakeocontractualoasowello asoregularoappointments.oTheoBoardoinoitsomeetings,ofromotimeotootime,ohaso consideredoagendaowithorespectotooregularizationoofopetitioners.oThoughotheo questionooforegularizationohasobeenoconsideredoinodifferentoBoardomeetings,o however,o foro theo sakeo ofo brevity,o agendao ando minuteso ofo meetingo datedo

20.12.2019oareoreproducedoasobelow:-o rd"oNoteoonoItemoNo.233.18oofotheoAgendaoforotheo233 oMeetingoofotheo BhakraoBeasoManagementoBoard.oo st(DeferredoItemoNo.231.09oofoBoard'so231 oMeeting)o ItemoNo.233.18o oo Regularisationo ofo serviceso ofo employeeso workingo ono contractualobasisoinoBBMBo oo o AnoAgendaoNoteoonotheosubjectowasoplacedobeforeotheoBoardo stino itso 231 o meetingo heldo ono 20.02.2019o aso itemo no.231.09.o Theo decisionotakenounderoitemoNo.231.09oisoasounder.o "Specialo Secretary,o briefedo abouto theo agenda,o initiatingotheodiscussion,oMembero(HP)osuggestedothato itowouldobeobetterotoodiscussothisoissueoinotheopresenceo ofo Membero (Govt.o ofo India-Power)o ando othero memberso ofo theo partnero states.o Accordingly,o ito waso decidedotoodeferotheoagendaotoonextoBoardoMeeting."o stoo (CopyoofoMinutesoofoitemoNo.o231.09oofo231 omeetingoheldoono

20.02.2019,o issuedo Video Secretaryo BBMBo lettero No.o 981-97/B-9/231/1-M/AdmnoDatedo26.02.2019oisoato(Appendix-Q-1).o oo o AccordinglyotheoAgendaoNoteowasoplacedobeforeoBoardoinoitso nd232 omeetingoheldoono17.08o2019.oTheodecisionotakenounderoitemo No.o232.10o(Appendix-Q-2)oisoasounder:o CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-10-o o o "Membero (Punjab)o desiredo thato ao comprehensiveo Agendao beo puto upo beforeo theo Boardo showingo theo positionoofosanctionedostrengthoemployeesoinoposition,o vacantoposts,osharesoofoeachopartneroStateoinovacanto postsoandono.oofoemployeesotoobeoregularized."o oo o "Furthero Membero (Haryana)o wantedo too knowo theo exacto thdecisionoofotheo219 omeetingoofoBoard."o oo Aftero deliberations,o ito waso decidedo too puto upo theo comprehensiveo proposalo aso desiredo byo Membero (Punjab)o thalongowithotheodecisionoofo219 omeetingoofoBoard.o ndIno viewo ofo theo decisiono takeno ino 232 o Boardo meetingo aso above,otheoAgendaoisoagainopresentedoasounder:-o Backgroundo oo Ino theo mattero ofo shortageo ofo manpowero foro criticalo thpostso aso identifiedo byo BBMBo wereo discussedo ino BBMBo 218 o ando th219 ooBoardomeetingoheldoono09.07.2014o&o25.08.2014orespectively.o Ino theseo meetingo deliberationso wereo heldo w.r.t.o retiremento ofo personneloinoforthcomingoyears,otimeotakenotootrainonewlyoinductedo employeeoforolearningootheoO&MoproceduresoofoPoweroHouses,oSubo Stations,oDamsoetc.ospecialoemphasizesoonofillingoupoofocriticalopostso identifiedobyoBBMB.oFurther,oitowasomentionedoinotheoagendaothatoito takesoabouto4otoo5oyearotrainingotooemployeesoforolearningoO&Mooofo PowerooHouses,oSub-Stations,o&oDamsoandoAppurtenantoworksoando BBMBo cannoto allowo ato anyo costo too runo theo powero houses,o subo stationsoandoDamsoetcobyorawohands.o thAfterodeliberations,otheofollowingodecisionowasotakenoino219 o meetingodatedo25.08.2014o(219.07)obyotheoBoard:-o "BBMBo shallo engageo employeeso ono contracto basiso ono identifiedo criticalo post(s)o througho theo selectiono processo conformingotootheoprovisionsoofoBBMBoRegulationso,o1994oforo aoperiodoofooneoyearoonoaofixedosalaryowithoaoprovisionoofo extensiono aso pero requirement.o However,o theo Stateso shallo provideoregularostaffowithinothisoperiodoofooneoyear.oTheopostso filledo upo ono contractualo basiso shallo beo giveno lumpo sumo payment/fixedoemolumentsoonotheobasisoofoinitialopayo+ogradeo payo+oDAoasoono01.01.2014."o CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-11-o o o th(CopyoofoMinutesoofoitemoNo.o219.07oofo219 omeetingoheldoono

25.08.2014o issuedo video Secretaryo BBMBo lettero No.9399-9415/B-9/219/1-M/Admn.oDatedo27.08.2014oisoato(Appendix-Q-3)o Aso pero approvalo accordedo byo Board,o Centralizedo Staffo Selectiono Committeeo (CSSC)o ofo BBMBo recruitedo theo manpowero againstotheocriticalopost(s)oofovariousocategoriesoonofixedosalaryoforoao oneoyearoonocontractualobasis,oinoaccordanceotooprovisionsoofoBBMBo ClassoIIIo&oIVoemployeesoRegulationso1994ofororecruitment,othrougho openo competitiono byo wideo advertisemento ando aftero observingo allo procedureso&ousualoformalitiesoasoperorules.o Itoisopertinentotoomentionothatorulesofororecruitmentooforegularo employeesowereofollowed/observedoforothisorecruitment.o Subsequently,o aso pero worko requiremento ando recommendationsoofoHeadoofoDepartmentsoregardingotheiroworko&o conduct/oefficiency,otheiroservicesohaveobeenoextendedofurtheroformo timeotootimeo&oareocontinuingotillodate.o Theo variouso categorieso ofo employeeso recruitedo througho Centralizedo Staffo Selectiono Committeeo (CSSC)o iso placedo aso Appendix-Q-4.o Manyoofotheseoemployeesohaveoalmostocompletedo3oyearsoofo serviceoasoperoAppendix-Q-5oendingoFYo2018-19.oItoisobroughtotootheo noticeoofotheomembersoothatomostoofotheseoemployeesoareoworkingoono criticalo postso ono contracto basiso ando haveo recruitedo througho transparentorecruitmentoprocessoandoplayingoimportantoroleoinoO&Mo ando othero areaso ofo theo projects.o However,o ino viewo ofo uncertaintyo abouto theiro futureo theseo employeeso areo gettingo restlesso ando areo lookingoforootheroprofessionaloopportunities.oSinceotheseoemployeeso haveobecomeotrainedooveroforopasto2-3oyearsoandohaveocreatedousefulo manpowero resourceo ino BBMB,o ito wouldo beo prudento ifo theseo employeesoareoregularizedoinoBBMB.oItoisoalsoobroughtotootheonoticeo ofomembersothatotheiroretentionoinoBBMBobecomesomoreosignificanto inoviewoofo1922ocriticalopostso(952oexistingo+o970odueotooretirement)o fallingovacantobyotheoyearo2023o(detailsoasoperoAppendix-Q-6).oAso such,otheoservicesoofocontractualoemployeesorecruitedobyofollowingo propero procedureo foro recruitmento ando qualificationo etc.o aso pero BBMBoRegulations,o1994omayobeoregularisedoonocompletionoofo3o years'oofotheiroserviceoinoBBMB.o CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-12-o o o ndoo o o AsodesiredobyoMembero(Punjab)oduringo232 omeetingo heldoono17.08.2019,otheopositionoofosanctionedostrength,oemployeeso inoposition,oposts,osharesoofoeachopartneroStateoinovacantopostsoando no.oofoemployeesotoobeoregularisedo(recruitedoonoContractobasis)oiso placedoatoAppendixoQ-7o&oQ-8.o InoadditionotoothisoitoisoalsoosubmittedothatoGovt.oofoHimachalo Pradesh,oDeptt.oofoPersonnelo(AP-III)oisoregularizingotheoservicesoofo contractualoappointeesoasoperoletteroNo.oPERo(AP)oC-Bo(2)-1/2019o datedo21.02.2019o(Appendix-Q-9).o Recently,oPSPCLovideoitsoorderodatedo11.12.2019o(Appendix-Q-10)o haso alsoo accordedo approval,o too regulariseo theo serviceso ofo contractobasedoLineman,owhoowereorecruitedounderoCRAoNo.o281/13,o fromotheodateoofocompletionoofocontractoperiodoofothreeoyears.o Proposalo oo Keepingo ino viewo theo issueo ofo retainingo youngo ando trainedo manpoweroresourceorecruitedothroughoproperorecruitmentoprocedureo aftero observingo allo usualo formalities,o fair/transparento methodo byo BBMB,oandofutureoretirementoscenario,oasowelloasopolicyoofoGovt.oofo Himachalo Pradesho foro regularizationo ofo Contractualo appointees,o Boardomayokindlyoconsideroandodeliberateoforoformulatingotheopolicyo foro regularisationo ofo serviceso ofo contractualo employeeso ono theiro completiono ofo 3o yearso ino respectiveo Financialo yearo aso mentionedo above.o o Submittedoforoconsiderationo&oapprovaloplease.o XXXXo o o XXXXo o o XXXXo MinutesoofoMeetingo ItemoNo.233.18o o Regularizationo ofo serviceso ofo employeeso workingo ono contractualoo basisoinoBBMB.o oo SpecialoSecretaryobrieflyoexplainedotheoAgendaoandoinformedo thatotheorepliesotootheoqueriesoraisedoinotheopreviousoBoardoMeetingo haveobeenogiven.o o Member/HPoinformedothatoalloemployeesoinoHPoareorecruitedo ono contractualo basiso ando theno regularizedo subsequently.o o Member/Rajasthano duringo discussions,o opinedo thato sinceo CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-13-o o o theseoappointmentsowereoonocontractualobasiso(initiallyoforooneoyearo ando likelyo too continue)o soo competento candidateso mighto noto haveo appliedoforotheosameoandofurtherowantedotooknowowhetheropropero selectiono processo waso adheredo too duringo theo selectiono process.o o Director/Security,oBBMBoinformedothatoproperorecruitmento procedure,oasoapplicableofororecruitmentooforegularoemployees,owaso followedoforoselectionoofotheseocontractualoemployeesoandoitohasobeeno observedo thato theo performanceo ofo theseo employeeso iso satisfactory.o o Member/oHaryanaodesiredotooknowoifothereoisoanyodifferenceo ino remunerationo ofo contractualo ando regularo employeeso too whicho Director/Securityo repliedo thato theo remunerationso areo differento foro contractualoandoregularoemployees.o o Accordingly,oafterodetailedodeliberations,oitowasodecidedothato theo financialo implicationso ino regularizingo theseo contractualo employeesobeoputoupoforoexaminationoinotheonextoBoardomeeting."o th10.k o Inotheoagendaoofo235 oMeetingoofotheoBoard,oitowasonoticedothato hugeonumberoofovacanciesohaveofallenovacant.oInotheoagenda,oitowasoproposedo thatosalaryoofotheoemployeesomayobeoincreased.oTheorelevantoextractsoofotheo agendaoandominutesoofomeetingoreadoas:oo "Itemo235.15o Regularizationo ofo serviceo ofo employeeso workingo ono contractualobasisoinoBBMBo XXXXo o o XXXXo o o XXXXo Agendaoo o "PunjaboCSRoasowelloasoRuleso&oRegulationsoofo PunjaboGovt.oareoapplicableoinoBBMBoandotheoserviceso ofoemployeesoareoregulatedoaccordingly.oPunjaboGovt.o videoitsoletterodatedo02.03.2020,oadoptedovideothisoofficeo letterodatedo03.03.2020o(Appendix-P-6),ohasowithdrawno theo policyo regardingo extensiono ino serviceso beyondo 58o years/60oyearsoofoageow.e.f.o31.03.2020.oResultingowhicho hugeoNo.oofovacanciesohaveofallenovacant.oAsosuch,opaceo CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-14-o o o ofopostingoofostaffobyopartnerostatesobeingoveryoslow,otheo gapobetweenosanctionoandovacantopostsoisowideningowitho eachopassingomonthoandoisoalreadyoatoanoalarmingostage.o Theseocontractualoemployeesoareosufferingoatobotho ends,oasobeingocontractualoemployeesoworkingoonofixedo emolumentsoonotheobasisoofo(InitialoPayoplusoGradeoPayo plusoDAoasoono01.01.2014)oforopasto6oyearso(Appendix-P-7)o ando stillo noto regularised.o Theseo contractualo employeesoworkingoinoBBMBohaveorepresentedoseekingo salaryo hikeo aso salaryo giveno too themo iso veryo mucho ono lowerosideoi.e.ofixoratesowithoInitialoPayoplusoGradeoPayo andoDAoasoono01.01.2014owhereas,otheopresentorateoofo DAo iso 164%o aso ono 01.07.2019o (Appendix-P-8).o Ito iso pertinentotoomentionohereothatomostoofotheseoemployeeso haveobecomeoineligible/overageotooapplyoforoanyoothero Govt.o job.o Theseo contractualo employeeso haveo becomeo expertoinotheirorespectiveoandospecificotechnicalofieldsoofo BBMBo projects,o ito wouldo beo prudento too utiliseo theiro servicesoinoBBMBoandotooincreaseotheirosalariesoasopero prevailingoDAow.e.f.odateoofoissuingoorderotillodecisiono theiroregularisationoisotakenobyoBoard.o o o o o Proposaloo oo Keepingoinoviewotheofactsoexplainedoabove,oito isoproposedoasounder:-o

1.k Too increaseo theo salaryo ofo theseo employeeso byo fixingoemolumentsoasoperoprevailingoDAoonotheo basisoofo(InitialoPayoplusoGradeoPayoplusoDAoaso pero prevailingo rate)o tillo decisiono ono theiro regularizationoisotakenobyotheoBoard.o

2.k SubsequentoDAoasograntedofromotimeotootimeobyo theoGovernmentoshalloalsoobeoadmissibleotootheseo employeeso ando ordero shallo beo prospectivelyo CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-15-o o o implementedo fromo theo dateo ofo issueo ofo officeo orderoinothisoregard.o Note:oDAoasoonodateoofoissueoofoofficeoorderoshallobeo paidoandonooarrearoonothisoaccountoshallobeo admissible."o MinutesoofoMeetingoo oo "oXXXXo o XXXXoo XXXXoo oo Aftero discussions,o Boardo agreedo too enhanceo theo emolumentso ofo theo employeeso workingo ono contractualo basiso hiredo aso pero Board'so decisiono thtakeno ino 219 o meetingo byo 64%o (Initialo Payo pluso GradeoPay)oofotheopostoonowhichotheyoareoworkingo withoimmediateoeffectoasoaoone-timeomeasure.oThiso enhancement,ohowever,owillonotoprovideoanyorightotoo theseo employeeso foro regularization.o Ito waso furthero decidedotoochangeotheonomenclatureoofothisoagendao too beo reado aso "Enhancemento ofo emolumentso ofo employeesoworkingoonocontractualobasisoinoBBMB."o

11.k o FromotheoperusaloofominutesoofoBoardomeetings,oitoisoquiteoevidento thato Boardohaso repeatedlyo acceptedothato ao hugeo numbero ofopostso areolyingo vacant;otheopetitionersoareotrainedoemployeesoandotheyohaveobeenoappointedo afterofollowingorulesoandoregulations;omanyoofotheoemployeesohaveobecomeo over-ageoandotheyocannotoapplyoanywhereoelseoandothereoisorestlessnessoamongo theoemployeesoonoaccountoofouncertaintyoofojoboandolesseroemolumentsothano regularoemployeesothoughotheyoareoperformingosameoduties.oo

12.k oo AotwooJudgeoBenchoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoArjunoSingho&o Othersov.oStateoofoHimachaloPradeshoandoOthers,o(2015)o15oSCCo713,owhileo dealingo witho appointmento ofo contractualo employeeso despiteo availabilityo ofo CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-16-o o o regularopostsohasoobservedothatoStateobeingomodeloemployeroshouldonotomakeo appointmentoonocontractobasisoasoitoamountsotoounfairoemploymentopracticeoaso wello aso violationo ofo Articleo 14o ofo theoConstitutiono ofo India.o Theo Supremeo Courto ino Umao Devio (supra)o haso deprecatedo practiceo ofo appointmento ofo contractualo employeeso byo backo dooro entryo ono theo groundo ofo violationo ofo Articleo14oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.oTheorelevantoextractsoofotheojudgmento inoArjunoSingho(supra)oreadoas:o "14.ooo Fromotheofactsoasonoticedoabove,oweofindothatotheo Electricityo Boardo waso ino needo ofo regularo Assistanto Accounto Officerso Classo Io ando thereo beingo 14o postso vacant,otheyomadeorequisitionotoofilloupoallotheo14opostso onoregularobasis.oTheorespondentsohaveofailedotoodiscloseo theo circumstanceso ino whicho theo advertisemento waso publishedobyotheoPublicoServiceoCommission,otheoscaleo ofopayowasoshowno@o50%oofotheoregularopayoandotheo natureoofoappointmentoonocontractobasis.o

15.ooo Inofactoinotheosaidoadvertisementoforotheopostoofo AssistantoAccountsoOfficeroClassoI,otheopostsoreservedoforo differentocategoriesowereoshownoi.e.oGen.-09,oSC-01,oST-01,oOBC-01,oEx-ServicemenoGen.-01,oDisabledopersono (LowoVision)-01o(Total-14oposts).oThus,oweofindoevenotheo ruleooforeservationowasoalsoofollowed.o

16.ooo Theo actiono ono theo parto ofo theo respondento Stateo authoritieso includingo theo Publico Serviceo Commissiono prescribingo50%oofotheoregularopayoofoRso7750+DPoono contractobasisoinitiallyoforooneoyear,oextendableoonoyear-to-yearobasisoisoagainstotheorequisitionoandotheodecisiono takenobyotheoElectricityoBoard.oSuchoactionoonotheoparto ofotheoauthoritiesonotoonlyoamountsotoounfairoemploymento practiceobutoalsooarbitraryoandoviolativeoofoArticleo14oofo CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-17-o o o

17.oo Itoisoclearothatotheotermsoofoconditionsoofopaymento @o50%ooforegularopayoandonatureoofoappointmentoono contractobasisowasoinsertedoinotheoadvertisementobyotheo Stateo authoritieso ando theo H.P.o Publico Serviceo Commissiono ato ao latero stageo justo too depriveo theo candidateso fromo theiro regularo payo ando theiro righto too continueoinotheoservice.oTheoHighoCourtofailedotoonoticeo theo aforesaido facto ando erredo ino holdingo thato theo regularisationo ofo serviceo iso noto permissible.o Ino facto ito waso noto ao caseo ofo regularisationo ofo serviceo ofo theo appellantsobutoisoaocaseowhereinodirectionooughtotoohaveo beenoissuedoonotheorespondentsotooprovideotheoappellantso witho orderso ofo regularo appointmento fromo theo dateo ofo theiroinitialoappointmentoandotootreatotheoinitialoperiodoofo twooyearsoasoprobationoandotooprovideothemowithoothero consequentialobenefits."o [EmphasisoSupplied]o

13.k o Theo petitionerso wereo indubitablyo appointedo followingo regularo processo i.e.o ruleso ando regulationso meanto foro theo appointmento ofo regularo employees.oTheopetitionersoareoworkingowithorespondentosinceo2015oandotheyo areo gettingo consolidatedo remunerationo insteado ofo salaryo payableo too regularo employees.oTheoBoardoinoitsomeetingohasorepeatedlyorecognizedothatonumbero ofopostsoareolyingovacant,opetitionersoareoeligibleofororegularizationobecauseo theyo wereo appointedo aftero followingo dueo procedureo ando theyo areo trainedo employees.oTheopetitionersodespiteoperformingosameodutiesoandosubjectedotoo sameorulesoandoregulationsoasoareoapplicableotooregularoemployees,oareogettingo lessero payo thano regularo employees.o Theo Stateo beingo modelo employero iso supposedotootreatoemployeesoequallyowhooareoperformingosameosetoofoduties.o TheoBoardohasonotoregularizedopetitionersobecauseothereowasoobjectionobyooneo oroanotheromemberoofotheoBoardoonotheogroundoofofinancialoimplications.oTheo CWP-9237-2023o&oConnectedoCaseso o oo-18-o o o respondent-Boardoisohavingoquiteohugeonumberoofovacantopostsoandopetitionerso canoveryowellobeoadjustedoagainstothoseoposts.oTheojudgmentoofoSupremeoCourto inoUmaoDevio(supra)oinonotocomingoinotheowayooforespondent-Boardoratheroaso pero saido judgment,o theo caseo ofo theo petitionerso couldo beo consideredo foro regularizationo becauseo theyo wereo noto appointedo byo backo dooro entry.o Theo appointmentoofopetitionersowasoadmittedlyomadeoafterofollowingodueoprocedureo asowelloasorulesoandoregulations.ooTheorespondent-Boardobeingoautonomouso bodyoisonotoboundotoofolloworulesoandoregulationsofollowedobyoStateoofoPunjabo andoPSPCL,ohowever,othereoisopersuasiveovalueooforulesoframedobyoPSPCLo becauseorespondent-Boardoisofollowingomostooforulesoandoregulationsoframedo orofollowedobyoPSPCL.o

14.k oo Ino theo wakeo ofo aboveo discussion,o findingso ando judgmentso ofo SupremeoCourt,othisoCourtoisoofotheoconsideredoopinionothatopetitionsodeserveo toobeoallowedoandoaccordinglyoallowed.oTheoimpugnedoordersoareoherebyoseto aside.oTheorespondent-Boardoisodirectedotooregularizeoallotheoemployeesofromo todayo ando theiro seniorityo wouldo beo fromo theo dateo ofo theiro appointment/recruitmento aso contractualo employee.o Theo petitionerso shallo beo entitledotooalloconsequentialobenefitsofromotodayoandotheyoshallonotobeoentitledo tooanyofinancialobenefitoforotheopastoperiod.o oo o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oalsoostandsodisposedoof.o o o(JAGMOHANoBANSAL)o ooo o o o o o o o o ooooooJUDGEoo

15.11.2023o MohitoKumaro Whetherospeaking/reasonedo Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo Yes/Noo o