Sanjay Kumar v. Punjab National Bank and Others

CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-1-o

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo o o AToCHANDIGARHo o 251o(5oCases)o o o o o CWP-18839-2023oo o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o30.11.2023o o o SanjayoKumaro o oo o o ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo,Petitionero Versuso PunjaboNationaloBankoandoOtherso o o ooooooooo oooooooo...Respondentso Witho o CWP-18627-2021o(O&M)o o o HansrajoandoOtherso o oo o o ooooooooooooooooooooo,Petitionerso Versuso PunjaboNationaloBankoandoAnotheroo o ooooooooo oooooooo...Respondentso Witho o o o o o o o CWP-18856-2023o SandeepoKumaro o oo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo oo,Petitionero Versuso PunjaboNationaloBankoandoOtherso o o ooooooooo oooooooo...Respondentso Witho o o o o o o o CWP-18874-2023o RajoKumaroo o oo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo oo,Petitionero Versuso PunjaboNationaloBankoandoOtherso o o ooooooooo oooooooo...Respondentso Ando o o o o o o o CWP-19658-2021o ShrioOmoandoAnothero oo o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ,Petitionerso I attest to the acPcuuracny janadboNationaloBankoandoAnotheroo o ooooooooo oooooooo...Respondentso CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-2-o

CORAM:oooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoJAGMOHANoBANSALo o Present:-oo Mr.oB.S.oBedi,oAdvocateoandoo Mr.oJasmeetoSinghoBedi,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s)o (inoCWP-oNo.18839-2023,oCWP-18856-2023,oCWP-18874-2023)ooo o o Ms.oHarmeetoKaur,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s)o (inoCWP-oNo.18627-2021,oCWP-19658-2021)ooo Mr.oSauravoVerma,oAdvocateowithoo o o Ms.oPreetioGrover,oAdvocateoforotheorespondentsoo oo o Mr.oNareshoJain,oAdvocateofororespondentoNos.3otoo18o oo o ***o JAGMOHANoBANSAL,oJ.o(Oral)o o

1.k o Asotheoissueoinvolvedoisocommon,owithotheoconsentoofocontestingo parties,oallotheocaptionedopetitionsoareodisposedoofobyothisocommonoorder.oForo theosakeoofobrevityoandoconvenience,ofactsoareoborrowedofromoCWPoNo.18839o ofo2023.o

2.k oo TheopetitionerothroughoinstantopetitionounderoArticleo226oofotheo Constitutiono ofo Indiao iso seekingo settingo asideo ofo advertisemento datedo

07.04.2021o (Annexureo P-1)o wherebyo respondentso invitedo applicationso foro regularopartotimeosweepersowithoutoextendingobenefitoofoageorelaxationotoooldo employees.o

3.k oo Theo briefo factso ofo theo caseo whicho areo necessaryo foro theo adjudicationo ofo theo presento petitionso areo thato theo petitionero belongso too ScheduledoCasteoCategoryoandoasoperohisoaverments,oheowasoemployedobyo Orientalo Banko ofo Commerceo ino 2012o ono parto timeo basis.o Theo ageo ofo theo petitioneroatotheotimeoofojoiningowithotheorespondent-bankowaso28oyears.oTheo aforesaido banko cameo too beo mergedo witho Punjabo Nationalo Banko w.e.f.o

01.04.2020.oTheoamalgamatedobankotookooveroallotheoassetsoandoliabilityoofo amalgamatingobankoi.e.oOrientaloBankoofoCommerce.oPunjaboNationaloBanko CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-3-o

issuedoadvertisementodatedo07.04.2021oinvitingoapplicationsofororegularoparto timeoSweepers.oInotheoadvertisement,otheomaximumoageoprescribedoforoGeneralo CategoryoCandidatesowaso24oyears,oforoOBCoCategoryo27oyearsoandoforoSCo Categoryo29oyears.oTheopetitionerowasomoreothano29oyearsoofoageoatotheotimeoofo advertisement.oTheopetitionerowasonotoeligibleotooparticipateoinotheoselectiono processostilloheosubmittedoanoapplication.oTheopetitionerowasonotoconsideredo beingo overage.o Theo respondent-banko haso completedo selectiono processo ando selectedocandidatesoareoworkingowithotheorespondent-bank.o

4.k oo Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero assailingo advertisemento submitsothatopetitionerowasoentitledotooageorelaxation,ohowever,orespondentso withouto extendingo benefito ofo ageo relaxationo proceededo witho theo selectiono processoandoselectedocandidatesootherothanotheopetitioner.oTheopetitioneroplaceso relianceouponojudgmentoofoSupremeoCourtoinoUniversityoofoDelhiov.oDelhio Universityo Contracto Employeeso Uniono ando Others,o 2021o AIRo (Supremeo Court)o3305;oStateoofoHimachaloPradeshov.oSureshoKumaroVerma,o1996o(7)o SCCo562oandoDivisionoBenchojudgmentoofothisoCourtoinoBalduoRamov.oStateoofo Haryana,o2000o(3)oSCTo288.o

5.k oo Pero contra,o learnedo counselo foro theo respondentso submitso thato selectionoprocessohasoalreadyocompletedoandoselectedocandidatesohaveojoinedo theiroservice.oTheopetitioneroneitherohasofundamentalonorovestedorightotooclaimo ageo relaxation.o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino peculiaro factso ando circumstanceso haso grantedo ageo relaxation,o however,o ito cannoto beo madeo applicableoinoeveryoselectionobecauseoitowouldoamountotoobackdooroentry.oo

6.k oo Iohaveoheardotheoargumentsoofolearnedocounselsoforotheopartiesoando perusedotheorecordowithotheiroableoassistance.o CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-4-o

7.k oo Theo concededo positiono emergingo fromo theo recordo iso thato theo petitioneroworkedowithoOrientaloBankoofoCommerceowhichohasomergedowitho Punjabo Nationalo Bank.o Theo respondent-Banko video advertisemento datedo

07.04.2021oinvitedoapplicationsofororegularopartotimeosweepers.oTheomaximumo ageoprescribedoforoSCoCategoryocandidatesowaso29oyearsoandopetitionerowaso ineligibleo too participateo beingo overage.o Theo respondento haso completedo selectionoprocessoandoselectedocandidatesohaveojoinedotheoservice.oo

8.k oo Ao Constitutiono Bencho ino Secretary,o Stateo ofo Karnatakao ando Othersov.oUmaoDevioandoOthers,o(2006)o4oSCCo1,ohasoadvertedowithoquestiono ofo regularizationo ofo temporary/parto time/adhoco employees.o Theo Courto haso deprecatedo practiceo ofo employingo temporary/parto timeo oro contractualo employeeso thougho Courto haso heldo thato ino exigency,o Stateo cano makeo appointmento ono contracto basis.o Theo Courto haso heldo thato regularizationo ofo contractualooropartotimeoemployeesowouldoamountotoolegalizationoofobackodooro entry.oTheoregularizationoofopartotimeoemployeesoisoviolativeoofoArticleso14,o16o &o309oofoConstitutionoofoIndia.oTheoemployeesowhooareoworkingoonodailyo wagesocannotoclaimodiscriminationoonotheogroundothatotheyohaveobeenopaido lessero thano regularlyo recruitedo employees.o Theo Higho Courto shouldo noto ordinarilyoissueodirectionsoforoabsorption,oregularizationoorocontinuanceounlesso theorecruitmentoitselfowasomadeoregularlyoandoinotermsoofotheoconstitutionalo scheme.oHighoCourtoisonotojustifiedoinoissuingointerimoordersoinosuchocases.o Thereoisonoofundamentaloorovestedorightoinothoseowhoohaveobeenoemployedoono dailyowagesoorotemporaryoorocontractualotooclaimothatotheyohaveoaorightotoobeo absorbedoinoservice.oTheorelevantoextractsoofotheojudgmentoreadoas:o "43.ooo oThus,oitoisoclearothatoadherenceotootheoruleoofoequalityoino MOHIT KUMAR publicoemploymentoisoaobasicofeatureoofoouroConstitutionoando CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-5-o

sinceotheoruleoofolawoisotheocoreoofoouroConstitution,oaocourto wouldocertainlyobeodisabledofromopassingoanoorderoupholdingoao violationoofoArticleo14ooroinoorderingotheooverlookingoofotheo needotoocomplyowithotheorequirementsoofoArticleo14oreadowitho Articleo16oofotheoConstitution.oTherefore,oconsistentowithotheo schemeoforopublicoemployment,othisoCourtowhileolayingodowno theolaw,ohasonecessarilyotooholdothatounlessotheoappointmentoiso inotermsoofotheorelevantorulesoandoafteroaoproperocompetitiono amongoqualifiedopersons,otheosameowouldonotoconferoanyorighto ono theo appointee.o Ifo ito iso ao contractualo appointment,o theo appointmentocomesotooanoendoatotheoendoofotheocontract,oifoito wereoanoengagementooroappointmentoonodailyowagesoorocasualo basis,otheosameowouldocomeotooanoendowhenoitoisodiscontinued.o Similarly,oaotemporaryoemployeeocouldonotoclaimotoobeomadeo permanentoonotheoexpiryoofohisotermoofoappointment.oItohasoalsoo toobeoclarifiedothatomerelyobecauseoaotemporaryoemployeeooroao casualowageoworkeroisocontinuedoforoaotimeobeyondotheotermoofo hisoappointment,oheowouldonotobeoentitledotoobeoabsorbedoino regularoserviceooromadeopermanent,omerelyoonotheostrengthoofo suchocontinuance,oifotheooriginaloappointmentowasonotomadeobyo followingo ao dueo processo ofo selectiono aso envisagedo byo theo relevantorules.oItoisonotoopenotootheocourtotoopreventoregularo recruitmento ato theo instanceo ofo temporaryo employeeso whoseo periodo ofo employmento haso comeo too ano endo oro ofo ado hoco employeesowhoobyotheoveryonatureoofotheiroappointment,odoonoto acquireoanyoright.oTheoHighoCourtsoactingounderoArticleo226oofo theo Constitution,o shouldo noto ordinarilyo issueo directionso foro absorption,o regularisation,o oro permanento continuanceo unlesso theorecruitmentoitselfowasomadeoregularlyoandoinotermsoofotheo constitutionalo scheme.o Merelyo becauseo ano employeeo hado continuedounderocoveroofoanoorderoofotheocourt,owhichoweohaveo describedoaso"litigiousoemployment"oinotheoearlieropartoofotheo judgment,oheowouldonotobeoentitledotooanyorightotoobeoabsorbedo oromadeopermanentoinotheoservice.oInofact,oinosuchocases,otheo HighoCourtomayonotobeojustifiedoinoissuingointerimodirections,o since,o aftero all,o ifo ultimatelyo theo employeeo approachingo ito iso foundoentitledotoorelief,oitomayobeopossibleoforoitotoomouldotheo I attest to the accuracy and reliefo ino sucho ao mannero thato ultimatelyo noo prejudiceo willo beo CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-6-o

causedo too him,o whereaso ano interimo directiono too continueo hiso employmentowouldoholdoupotheoregularoprocedureoforoselectiono oroimposeoonotheoStateotheoburdenoofopayingoanoemployeeowhoo isoreallyonotorequired.oTheocourtsomustobeocarefuloinoensuringo thato theyo doo noto interfereo undulyo witho theo economico arrangementoofoitsoaffairsobyotheoStateooroitsoinstrumentalitieso orolendothemselvesotheoinstrumentsotoofacilitateotheobypassingoofo theoconstitutionaloandostatutoryomandates.o

44.ooo Theoconceptoofo"equalopayoforoequalowork"oisodifferento fromotheoconceptoofoconferringopermanencyoonothoseowhoohaveo beenoappointedoonoadohocobasis,otemporaryobasis,oorobasedoono nooprocessoofoselectionoasoenvisagedobyotheorules.oThisoCourto hasoinovariousodecisionsoappliedotheoprincipleoofoequalopayoforo equalo worko ando haso laido downo theo parameterso foro theo applicationoofothatoprinciple.oTheodecisionsoareorestedoonotheo conceptoofoequalityoenshrinedoinoouroConstitutionoinotheolightoofo theodirectiveoprinciplesoinothatobehalf.oButotheoacceptanceoofo thatoprincipleocannotoleadotooaopositionowhereotheocourtocouldo directo thato appointmentso madeo withouto followingo theo dueo procedureoestablishedobyolaw,obeodeemedopermanentooroissueo directionso too treato themo aso permanent.o Doingo so,o wouldo beo negationoofotheoprincipleoofoequalityoofoopportunity.oTheopowero toomakeoanoorderoasoisonecessaryoforodoingocompleteojusticeoino anyo causeo oro mattero pendingo beforeo thiso Court,o wouldo noto normallyo beo usedo foro givingo theo go-byo too theo procedureo establishedobyolawoinotheomatteroofopublicoemployment.oTakeotheo situationo arisingo ino theo caseso beforeo uso fromo theo Stateo ofo Karnataka.o Therein,o afteroDharwado decisiono[(1990)o 2o SCCo 396o:o1990oSCCo(L&S)o274o:o(1990)o12oATCo902o:o(1990)o1o SCRo544]otheoGovernmentohadoissuedorepeatedodirectionsoando mandatoryoordersothatonootemporaryooroadohocoemploymentooro engagementobeogiven.oSomeoofotheoauthoritiesoandodepartmentso hadoignoredothoseodirectionsoorodefiedothoseodirectionsoandohado continuedotoogiveoemployment,ospecificallyointerdictedobyotheo ordersoissuedobyotheoexecutive.oSomeoofotheoappointingoofficerso haveoevenobeenopunishedoforotheirodefiance.oItowouldonotobeojusto MOHIT KUMAR oroproperotoopassoano orderoinoexerciseoofojurisdictionoundero CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-7-o

Articleo226ooro32oofotheoConstitutionooroinoexerciseoofopowero underoArticleo142oofotheoConstitutionopermittingothoseopersonso engaged,otoobeoabsorbedoorotoobeomadeopermanent,obasedoono theiroappointmentsooroengagements.oCompleteojusticeowouldobeo justiceoaccordingotoolawoandothoughoitowouldobeoopenotoothiso Courtotoomouldotheorelief,othisoCourtowouldonotograntoaoreliefo whichowouldoamountotooperpetuatingoanoillegality.o

45.ooo Whileodirectingothatoappointments,otemporaryoorocasual,o beoregularisedooromadeopermanent,otheocourtsoareoswayedobyo theofactothatotheopersonoconcernedohasoworkedoforosomeotimeo andoinosomeocasesoforoaoconsiderableolengthoofotime.oItoisonotoaso ifotheopersonowhooacceptsoanoengagementoeitherotemporaryooro casualoinonature,oisonotoawareoofotheonatureoofohisoemployment.o Heoacceptsotheoemploymentowithoopenoeyes.oItomayobeotrueothato heoisonotoinoaopositionotoobargain—notoatoarm'solength—sinceo heomightohaveobeenosearchingoforosomeoemploymentosooasotoo ekeooutohisolivelihoodoandoacceptsowhateveroheogets.oButoonothato groundo alone,o ito wouldo noto beo appropriateo too jettisono theo constitutionaloschemeoofoappointmentoandotootakeotheoviewothato aopersonowhoohasotemporarilyoorocasuallyogotoemployedoshouldo beodirectedotoobeocontinuedopermanently.oByodoingoso,oitowillobeo creatingo anothero modeo ofo publico appointmento whicho iso noto permissible.oIfotheocourtowereotoovoidoaocontractualoemploymento ofothisonatureoonotheogroundothatotheopartiesowereonotohavingo equalobargainingopower,othatotooowouldonotoenableotheocourtotoo granto anyo reliefo too thato employee.o Ao totalo embargoo ono sucho casualo oro temporaryo employmento iso noto possible,o giveno theo exigenciesoofoadministrationoandoifoimposed,owouldoonlyomeano thato someo peopleo whoo ato leasto geto employmento temporarily,o contractuallyo oro casually,o wouldo noto beo gettingo eveno thato employmentowhenosecuringoofosuchoemploymentobringsoatoleasto someosuccourotoothem.oAfteroall,oinnumerableocitizensoofoouro vasto countryo areo ino searcho ofo employmento ando oneo iso noto compelledotooacceptoaocasualoorotemporaryoemploymentoifooneo isonotoinclinedotoogooinoforosuchoanoemployment.oItoisoinothato contexto thato oneo haso too proceedo ono theo basiso thato theo MOHIT KUMAR employmentowasoacceptedofullyoknowingotheonatureoofoitoandotheo CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-8-o

consequenceso flowingo fromo it.o Ino othero words,o eveno whileo acceptingo theo employment,o theo persono concernedo knowso theo natureoofohisoemployment.oItoisonotoanoappointmentotooaopostoino theorealosenseoofotheoterm.oTheoclaimoacquiredobyohimoinotheo postoinowhichoheoisotemporarilyoemployedoorotheointerestoinothato posto cannoto beo consideredo too beo ofo sucho ao magnitudeo aso too enableotheogivingoupoofotheoprocedureoestablished,oforomakingo regularoappointmentsotooavailableopostsoinotheoservicesoofotheo State.oTheoargumentothatosinceooneohasobeenoworkingoforosomeo timeoinotheopost,oitowillonotobeojustotoodiscontinueohim,oeveno thoughoheowasoawareoofotheonatureoofotheoemploymentowhenoheo firstotookoitoup,oisonotooneothatowouldoenableotheojettisoningoofo theoprocedureoestablishedobyolawoforopublicoemploymentoando wouldo haveo too failo wheno testedo ono theo touchstoneo ofo constitutionalityo ando equalityo ofo opportunityo enshrinedo ino Articleo14oofotheoConstitution.o

46.ooo Learnedo Senioro Counselo foro someo ofo theo respondentso arguedo thato ono theo basiso ofo theo doctrineo ofo legitimateo expectation,otheoemployees,oespeciallyoofotheoCommercialoTaxeso Department,o shouldo beo directedo too beo regularisedo sinceo theo decisionsoinoDharwado[(1990)o2oSCCo396o:o1990oSCCo(L&S)o 274o :o (1990)o 12o ATCo 902o :o (1990)o 1o SCRo 544]o ,oPiarao Singho[(1992)o4oSCCo118o:o1992oSCCo(L&S)o825o:o(1992)o21o ATCo 403o :o (1992)o 3o SCRo 826]o ,oJacobo[Jacobo M.o Puthuparambilov.oKeralaoWateroAuthority,o(1991)o1oSCCo28o:o 1991o SCCo (L&S)o 25o :o (1991)o 15o ATCo 697]o andoGujarato Agriculturalo Universityo[Gujarato Agriculturalo Universityov.oRathodoLabhuoBechar,o(2001)o3oSCCo574o:o2001o SCCo(L&S)o613]oandotheolike,ohaveogivenoriseotooanoexpectationo ino themo thato theiro serviceso wouldo alsoo beo regularised.o Theo doctrineocanobeoinvokedoifotheodecisionsoofotheoadministrativeo authorityoaffectotheopersonobyodeprivingohimoofosomeobenefitooro advantageowhichoeithero(i)oheohadoinotheopastobeenopermittedobyo theo decision-makero too enjoyo ando whicho heo cano legitimatelyo expectotoobeopermittedotoocontinueotoodoountilothereohaveobeeno communicatedotoohimosomeorationalogroundsoforowithdrawingoito MOHIT KUMAR onowhichoheohasobeenogivenoanoopportunityotoocomment;ooro(ii)o CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-9-o

heohasoreceivedoassuranceofromotheodecision-makerothatotheyo willonotobeowithdrawnowithoutogivingohimofirstoanoopportunityoofo advancingo reasonso foro contendingo thato theyo shouldo noto beo withdrawn.o [Seeo Lordo Diplocko inoCouncilo foro Civilo Serviceso Unionov.oMinisteroofoCiviloServiceo[1985oACo374o:o(1984)o3oAllo ERo 935o :o (1984)o 3o WLRo 1174o (HL)]o ,oNationalo Buildingso Constructiono Corpn.ov.oS.o Raghunathano[(1998)o 7o SCCo 66o :o 1998oSCCo(L&S)o1770]oandoChanchaloGoyalo(Dr.)ov.oStateoofo Rajasthano[(2003)o3oSCCo485o:o2003oSCCo(L&S)o322]o.]oThereo isonoocaseothatoanyoassuranceowasogivenobyotheoGovernmentooro theo departmento concernedo whileo makingo theo appointmento ono dailyo wageso thato theo statuso conferredo ono himo willo noto beo withdrawnountilosomeorationaloreasonocomesointooexistenceoforo withdrawingo it.o Theo veryo engagemento waso againsto theo constitutionalo scheme.o Though,o theo Commissionero ofo theo CommercialoTaxesoDepartmentosoughtotoogetotheoappointmentso madeo permanent,o thereo iso noo caseo thato ato theo timeo ofo appointmentoanyopromiseowasoheldoout.oNoosuchopromiseocouldo alsoohaveobeenoheldooutoinoviewoofotheocircularsoandodirectiveso issuedo byo theo Governmento afteroDharwado decisiono[(1990)o 2o SCCo396o:o1990oSCCo(L&S)o274o:o(1990)o12oATCo902o:o(1990)o 1oSCRo544]o.oThough,othereoisoaocaseothatotheoStateohadomadeo regularisationsoinotheopastoofosimilarlyosituatedoemployees,otheo factoremainsothatosuchoregularisationsowereodoneoonlyopursuanto toojudicialodirections,oeitheroofotheoAdministrativeoTribunalooro ofotheoHighoCourtoandoinosomeocasesobyothisoCourt.oMoreover,o theoinvocationoofotheodoctrineoofolegitimateoexpectationocannoto enableo theo employeeso too claimo thato theyo musto beo madeo permanentoorotheyomustobeoregularisedoinotheoserviceothougho theyo hado noto beeno selectedo ino termso ofo theo ruleso foro appointment.o Theo facto thato ino certaino caseso theo courto hado directedo regularisationo ofo theo employeeso involvedo ino thoseo caseso cannoto beo madeo useo ofo too foundo ao claimo basedo ono legitimateo expectation.o Theo argumento ifo acceptedo wouldo alsoo runocounterotootheoconstitutionalomandate.oTheoargumentoinothato CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-10-o

47.ooo Whenoaopersonoentersoaotemporaryoemploymentoorogetso engagemento aso ao contractualo oro casualo workero ando theo engagementoisonotobasedoonoaoproperoselectionoasorecognisedo byo theo relevanto ruleso oro procedure,o heo iso awareo ofo theo consequencesoofotheoappointmentobeingotemporary,ocasualooro contractualoinonature.oSuchoaopersonocannotoinvokeotheotheoryo ofolegitimateoexpectationoforobeingoconfirmedoinotheopostowheno anoappointmentotootheopostocouldobeomadeoonlyobyofollowingoao propero procedureo foro selectiono ando ino caseso concerned,o ino consultationo witho theo Publico Serviceo Commission.o Therefore,o theo theoryo ofo legitimateo expectationo cannoto beo successfullyo advancedo byo temporary,o contractualo oro casualo employees.o Ito cannotoalsoobeoheldothatotheoStateohasoheldooutoanyopromiseo whileo engagingo theseo personso eithero too continueo themo whereo theyo areo oro too makeo themo permanent.o Theo Stateo cannoto constitutionallyomakeosuchoaopromise.oItoisoalsooobviousothatotheo theoryocannotobeoinvokedotooseekoaopositiveoreliefoofobeingomadeo permanentoinotheopost.o

48.ooo Itowasothenocontendedothatotheorightsoofotheoemployeeso thusoappointed,ounderoArticleso14oando16oofotheoConstitution,o areo violated.o Ito iso statedo thato theo Stateo haso treatedo theo employeesounfairlyobyoemployingothemoonolessothanominimumo wagesoandoextractingoworkofromothemoforoaoprettyolongoperiodo ino comparisono witho thoseo directlyo recruitedo whoo areo gettingo moreowagesoorosalariesoforodoingosimilarowork.oTheoemployeeso beforeo uso wereo engagedo ono dailyo wageso ino theo departmento concernedoonoaowageothatowasomadeoknownotoothem.oThereoiso noocaseothatotheowageoagreedouponowasonotobeingopaid.oThoseo whooareoworkingoonodailyowagesoformedoaoclassobyothemselves,o theyocannotoclaimothatotheyoareodiscriminatedoasoagainstothoseo whoohaveobeenoregularlyorecruitedoonotheobasisoofotheorelevanto rules.o Noo righto cano beo foundedo ono ano employmento ono dailyo wagesotooclaimothatosuchoemployeeoshouldobeotreatedoonoaoparo withoaoregularlyorecruitedocandidate,oandomadeopermanentoino employment,oevenoassumingothatotheoprincipleocouldobeoinvokedo foro claimingo equalo wageso foro equalo work.o Thereo iso noo MOHIT KUMAR fundamentalorightoinothoseowhoohaveobeenoemployedoonodailyo CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-11-o

wageso oro temporarilyo oro ono contractualo basis,o too claimo thato theyohaveoaorightotoobeoabsorbedoinoservice.oAsohasobeenoheldobyo thisoCourt,otheyocannotobeosaidotoobeoholdersoofoaopost,osince,oao regularo appointmento couldo beo madeo onlyo byo makingo appointmentsoconsistentowithotheorequirementsoofoArticleso14o ando16oofotheoConstitution.oTheorightotoobeotreatedoequallyowitho theo othero employeeso employedo ono dailyo wages,o cannoto beo extendedotooaoclaimoforoequalotreatmentowithothoseowhoowereo regularlyoemployed.oThatowouldobeotreatingounequalsoasoequals.o Itocannotoalsoobeoreliedoonotooclaimoaorightotoobeoabsorbedoino serviceoevenothoughotheyohaveoneverobeenoselectedoinotermsoofo theorelevantorecruitmentorules.oTheoargumentsobasedoonoArticleso 14oando16oofotheoConstitutionoareothereforeooverruled.o

49.oo ItoisocontendedothatotheoStateoactionoinonotoregularisingo theoemployeesowasonotofairowithinotheoframeworkoofotheoruleoofo law.oTheoruleoofolawocompelsotheoStateotoomakeoappointmentsoaso envisagedo byo theo Constitutiono ando ino theo mannero weo haveo indicatedo earlier.o Ino mosto ofo theseo cases,o noo doubt,o theo employeesohadoworkedoforosomeolengthoofotimeobutothisohasoalsoo beenobroughtoaboutobyotheopendencyoofoproceedingsoinotribunalso andocourtsoinitiatedoatotheoinstanceoofotheoemployees.oMoreover,o acceptingoanoargumentoofothisonatureowouldomeanothatotheoStateo wouldobeopermittedotooperpetuateoanoillegalityoinotheomatteroofo publico employmento ando thato wouldo beo ao negationo ofo theo constitutionaloschemeoadoptedobyous,otheopeopleoofoIndia.oItoiso thereforeonotopossibleotooacceptotheoargumentothatothereomusto beoaodirectionotoomakeopermanentoallotheopersonsoemployedoono dailyowages.oWhenotheocourtoisoapproachedofororeliefobyowayoofo aowrit,otheocourtohasonecessarilyotooaskoitselfowhetherotheopersono beforeoitohadoanyolegalorightotoobeoenforced.oConsideredoinotheo lightoofotheoveryoclearoconstitutionaloscheme,oitocannotobeosaido thatotheoemployeesohaveobeenoableotooestablishoaolegalorightotoo beo madeo permanento eveno thougho theyo haveo nevero beeno appointedo ino termso ofo theo relevanto ruleso oro ino adherenceo ofo Articleso14oando16oofotheoConstitution."o CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-12-o

9.k ooo Ao threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Officialo Liquidatorov.oDayanandoandoOthers,o(2008)o10oSCCo1ohasoreiteratedoopiniono ofoConstitutionoBenchoinoUmaoDevio(supra).oo

10.k oo AoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtovideojudgmentodatedo04.07.2022o inoLokeshoRanaoandoanotherov.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers,oLPAoNo.513oofo 2022,ohasoheldothatoaocontractualoemployeeohasonoorightotoogetohisocontracto renewedowhichowasoforoaolimitedoperiod.ooo

11.k oo TheoApexoCourtoinoHargurpratapoSinghov.oStateoofoPunjaboando others,o(2007)o13oSCCo292,ohasoheldothatocontractualoemployeesocannotobeo replacedobyoanotherosetoofocontractualoemployees.oInotheocaseoinohand,otheo petitionersohaveobeenoreplacedobyoregularoemployeesowhoohaveobeenoappointedo afterofollowingodueoprocedure.oo

12.k oo AotwooJudgeoBenchoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoUnionoofoIndiao andoothersov.oVartakoLabouroUnion,o(2011)o4oSCCo200ohasorejectedoclaimoofo regularizationoofocontractualoemployeesowhoohadoworkedoforomoreothano30o yearsowithoBorderoRoadsoOrganization.oo

13.k oo AotwooJudgeoBenchoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoUnionoofoIndiao andoothersov.oAlloIndiaoTradeoUnionoCongressoandoothers,o(2019)o5oSCCo 773,o followingo Vartako Labouro Uniono (supra)o haso heldo thato noo contractualo employeeocanoclaimoregularization.oHighoCourtsocannotodirectoauthoritiesotoo frameopolicyoandoregularizeotheocontractualoemployees.o

14.k oo AoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtovideojudgmentodatedo31.05.2018o ino Yogesho Tyagio ando anothero v.o Stateo ofo Haryanao ando others,o CWPo No.17206oofo2014,osetoasideopolicyooforegularizationomadeobyotheoState.oTheo I attest to the accuracy andCourtohasosetoasideopolicyoonotheogroundothatoregularizationoofocontractualo CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-13-o

employeesowhoohaveobeenoappointedowithoutofollowingoprescribedoprocedureo amountsotoobackodooroentryoandoitoamountsotooviolationoofoArticleso14,o16o&o 309oofoConstitutionoofoIndia.o

15.k o TheopetitionerorelyingouponojudgmentoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto inoUniversityoofoDelhio(supra)oandoSureshoKumaroVermao(supra)oareoclaimingo thato theyo shouldo beo extendedo benefito ofo ageo relaxation.o Hon'bleo Supremeo Courtoinoaforesaidojudgmentsohasonotolaidodownolawotootheoextentothatoinoeveryo caseoanoemployeroisosupposedotooextendobenefitoofoageorelaxationotoothoseo employeeso whoo wereo workingo ono contract/parto timeo basis.o Theo Courto haso directedorespondentsotooextendoageorelaxationoinotheofactsoandocircumstanceso involvedotherein.oItoisoaptotoonoticeothatoinotheocaseoofoUniversityoofoDelhio (supra),othereowasoanoaffidavitoonotheopartoofouniversityowhereinouniversityo itselfoagreedotoograntoageorelaxation.oo

16.k oo Inotheocaseoinohand,otheopetitioneroisoclaimingothatoheowasoworkingo witho Orientalo Banko ofo Commerceo ono parto timeo basis.o Theo respondento advertisedoregularoposts.oTheorespondentodidonotoattemptotooreplaceooneosetoofo contractual/parto timeo employeeso witho anothero seto ofo parto time/contractualo employees.oTheorespondentoinvitedoapplicationsofororegularoappointment.oTheo petitionerowasofreeotooparticipateoinotheoselectionoprocessosubjectotootermsoando conditionso ofo theo advertisement.o Theo respondento haso completedo selectiono processoandoselectedocandidatesohaveoalreadyojoined.o

17.k oo InoviewoofoaforesaidojudgmentsoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,otheo petitionero haso noo vestedo oro fundamentalo righto too continueo oro claimo regularizationooroclaimoageorelaxation.oThisoCourtoatotheobestocouldoconsidero claimoofotheopetitionerohadoappointmentsonotobeenomade.oUndisputedly,otheo CWP-18839-2023oo&oConnectedoCaseso ooo o oooooo oooooooo-14-o

respondentsohaveoalreadyocompletedoselectionoprocessoandopetitionerohasonoo fundamentaloorovestedorightotooclaimoageorelaxation.oTheoCourtsohaveodirectedo Stateoandoitsoinstrumentalitiesotoograntoageorelaxationopriorotoocompletionoofo selectionoprocessoandoinotheolightoofoinvolvedofactoandocircumstances.oThereoiso neithero anyo straitjacketo formulao noropetitionero carryo fundamentalooro vestedo rightoofoageorelaxation.o

18.k oo Inoviewoofoaboveodiscussionoandofindings,othisoCourtoisoofotheo consideredoopinionothatopresentopetitionsoareobereftoofomerit,othus,odeserveotoo beodismissedoandoaccordinglyodismissed.o o (JAGMOHANoBANSAL)o ooo o o o o o o o o ooooooJUDGEoo

30.11.2023o MohitoKumaro Whetherospeaking/reasonedo Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo Yes/Noo o