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[Cites 12, Cited by 0]

Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur

Lrs Of Sunny vs The Union Of India on 29 April, 2026

Author: Pushpendra Singh Bhati

Bench: Pushpendra Singh Bhati

[2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB]

      HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT
                       JODHPUR
                D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 6974/2025

Lrs Of Sunny, S/o Shri Kishan Lal Ji, Smt. Kusum W/o Late Shri
Sunny, Aged 53 Years, R/o Mahadev Colony, Kabir Nagar,
Soorsagar Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan (All Lrs Of Applicant Sunny).
                                                                        ----Petitioner
                                       Versus
1.       The Union Of India, Through The Secretary, Ministry Of
         Communication And It, Department Of Posts, Government
         Of India, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi.
2.       The   Post     Master       General,        Rajasthan       Circle,   Jaipur,
         Rajasthan.
3.       The Post Master General, Rajasthan Western Region,
         Jodhpur 342001.
4.       The Senior Superintendent Of Post Offices, Jodhpur
         Division, Jodhpur 342001.
5.       The    Sub      Post      Master        (Spm),        Office    Of    S.p.m.,
         Shastrinagar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
                                                                    ----Respondents


For Petitioner(s)            :     Mr. Satya Prakash Sharma
                                   Mr. Abhimanyu Khatri
For Respondent(s)            :     Mr. Vaibhav Bhansali for
                                   Mr. B.P. Bohra, Sr. CGSC



     HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI
               HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP SHAH

                                    Judgment

Reportable
15/04/2026

(As per Hon'ble Sandeep Shah J.)

1.    Date of conclusion of arguments                                   15.04.2026
2.    Date on which judgment was reserved                               15.04.2026

3.    Whether the full judgment or only the
      operative part is pronounced:                                  Full Judgment

4.    Date of pronouncement                                             29.04.2026

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1.    The present writ petition has been filed by the legal

representative - Smt. Kusum, wife of deceased employee Sunny

against the order dated 30.07.2024 passed by learned Central

Administrative Tribunal, Jodhpur in O.A. No. 71/2019: 'LRs of

Applicant: Smt. Kusum w/o Late Sunny vs. Union of India' and

Ors., by which, learned Tribunal has dismissed the O.A. and

declined the request of regularization of service and grant of

regular pay scale to the original applicant-deceased Sunny.

Factual Matrix:-

2.    Brief facts of the case are as following: -

2.1   The original applicant Sunny had joined the office of Sub Post

Office, Shastri Nagar, Jodhpur on 03.09.1984 as part-time casual

labour in the capacity of sweeper. His salary was being paid from

contingency fund, with the following time to time pay rise

mentioned in the petition: initially Rs. 27/- per day, then enhanced

to Rs. 380/-, in the year 1999 he was being paid 755/- per month,

which was enhanced to 4835/- per month, which was further

enhanced in the year 2013 to Rs. 6365/- per month and in the

month of October, 2015 he was being paid at the rate of Rs.

11,076/- per month.

2.2   The original applicant had worked at the said office until his

death i.e. 24.01.2020. The original applicant had made a request

to respondent authority vide representation dated 10.04.2017 to

enhance his wages as per O.M. dated 22.01.2015 issued by

Government of India. The original applicant had claimed that he

has also made request to the respondent authorities to consider

regularization of his service as he had been working since 1984

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and even employees, who were appointed later than him, were

also given the same benefits.

2.3    Aggrieved by the inaction of the respondent authorities, the

original applicant preferred an O.A. No. 71/2019 before the CAT,

Jodhpur seeking regularization of service on the ground of his

long-time service as well as claiming parity with Vijesh Kumar,

another part-time employee, at Sub Post Office Kacheri, Jodhpur,

who had been granted the status of full time employee with

regular pay scale by the learned Tribunal. In Vijesh Kumar's case,

he had filed O.A. No. 125/2005 praying for grant of status of full-

time temporary employee and the learned Tribunal had allowed

the same vide order dated 15.02.2006. He thereafter filed O.A.

seeking regularization which came to be allowed vide order dated

18.09.2008. The respondent authorities challenged the order

dated 18.09.2008 before this court in DB Civil Writ Petition No.

11217/2009, and this court affirmed the order dated 18.09.2008.

When the respondent authorities did not comply with the order

dated 18.09.2008 passed by the learned Tribunal, Vijesh Kumar

preferred a contempt petition, and during the pendency of the

contempt petition, Vijesh Kumar's service was regularised at the

post    of   MTS        (Group-C)        vide       order       dated   22.03.2011.

Consequently, the contempt petition of Vijesh Kumar was disposed

of vide order dated 29.04.2011.

2.4    The O.A. No. 71/2019 of the present applicant was dismissed

by learned Tribunal vide order dated 23.09.2019 on the grounds of

delay and his case being distinguishable from the Vijesh Kumar.




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2.5   The order dated 23.09.2019 was challenged before this

Court in DB Civil Writ Petition No. 141/2020 and this Court vide

judgment dated 02.11.2022 remanded the matter to the learned

Tribunal for consideration of O.A. No.71/2019 afresh on merits.

This Court specifically held that dismissal of claim on the ground

of delay was not justified and observed that the case in hand was

a case of continuous cause of action. The matter was thus

remanded to the learned Central Administrative Tribunal for

consideration of the case on merits afresh in accordance with law.

During the pendency of DB Civil Writ Petition No. 141/2020,

applicant expired on 24.01.2020 and subsequently, his wife was

taken on record as legal representative of the applicant.

2.6   In compliance of judgment dated 02.11.2022 passed by this

court, the learned Tribunal heard the matter afresh and dismissed

vide order dated 30.07.2024 on ground of delay as well on finding

that the applicant's case cannot be equated with the case of Vijesh

Kumar, as the appointment of Vijesh Kumar was approved under

25% vacancies of casual labour for year 2009 as per the revised

Recruitment Rules, 2010 and the Scheme of Casual Labour (Grant

of Temporary Status and Regularization) Scheme, 1991,                        was

squarely applicable to Vijesh Kumar. Hence, the present petition.

Arguments of the learned counsel for the Petitioner: -

3.    Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the

impugned order dated 30.07.2024 passed by the learned Tribunal

is erroneous in the eyes of law as the deceased employee Sunny

was eligible to receive the claimed benefits of regular pay scale

and regularization of his service by sheer longevity of his service

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i.e more than 35 years. He submitted that the ground of delay

was overruled by this Court in order dated 02.11.2022 while

following the judgment of M.R. Gupta vs. Union of India,

reported in 1995 (5) SCC 628 and holding that the case of the

applicant is not of one time action rather, the claim for

regularization and pay parity on the basis of the principle of 'Equal

pay for equal work' gave rise to a fresh cause of action each

month in favour of the applicant.

3.1. Learned counsel submitted that the learned Tribunal has

erred in coming to the conclusion that the original applicant was

sleeping over his rights by not claiming the benefits on time. He

submitted that during applicant's service, several pay rise were

given to him, but they hardly justified the actual work performed

by the applicant and when the applicant actually approached

respondent authority, with representation dated 10.04.2017, to

convert his status from part time to full time and making his

payment in regular pay scale in terms of O.M. dated 22.01.2015

issued by Government of India, respondent authority kept silent

and did not respond to the said representation.

3.2. Learned counsel further submitted that learned Tribunal has

committed grave error in distinguishing the applicant's claim on

ground of parity with Vijesh Kumar based on the principles of

equity   and    fairness,      and      making        strange       observation   that

applicant should have approached immediately after Vijesh Kumar

succeeded in his claim.

3.3   Learned counsel also pointed out that the learned Tribunal

has not just ignored the fact of long dedicated service of applicant,

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but also overlooked his continuous effort of approaching the

respondent authorities with his grievances as also the fact that the

respondent authorities had shown total apathy towards applicant

by not considering his representation, which was contrary to the

settled norms of administrative jurisprudence.

3.4. Learned counsel also submitted that the issue of applicant

being minor at the time of appointment cannot be permitted to be

raised in applicant's case, as the same was not raised in the reply

filed by respondent authorities in both the original applications

before the learned Tribunal and in the case of Vijesh Kumar,

despite the ground of minor age being raised, he was granted the

relief by the learned Tribunal.

3.5. Learned     counsel        further       submitted         that      whenever    an

employee is kept for long years of service as daily wager against a

permanent post and discharges similar duties like a regular

employee, then he is entitled to be paid regular pay scale of the

post and the same view was taken by Hon'ble Supreme Court in

State of Punjab vs. Jagjit Singh, reported in (2017) 1 SCC

148 and it was further held that even a daily wager is entitled for

minimum of pay scale irrespective of mode of appointment.

3.6. Learned counsel further submitted that there was a specific

averment made before the learned Tribunal with regard to the

original   applicant      being       appointed         under       the    respondent-

Department at Sub Post Office of Shastri Nagar on 03.09.1984,

and thereafter continuously working till the date of his death

under the respondent-Department at the same place. He further

submitted that the above-mentioned averments were never

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disputed by the respondent-Department in their reply filed before

the learned Tribunal and rather, in the reply, they had admitted

that the applicant was working under them for years together

however, the only averment made was that he was working as

part-time casual labour and that the wages were being paid from

the contingency fund. He thus submits, that the averment made

before this Court for the first time with regard to applicant

working under the respondent-Department since the year 1999 is

totally unjustified and without any basis whatsoever.

3.7. Learned counsel relied on the following judgments to support

his contentions, claiming regularization:-

Jaggo vs. Union of India, reported in 2024 SCC OnLine SC

3826, Shripal vs Nagar Nimal Ghaziabad, reported in 2025

INSC 144, Nihal Singh & Ors vs. State of Punjab & Ors,

reported in AIR 2013 SC 3547, Bhola Nath vs The State of

Jharkhand & Ors., reported in 2026 SCC OnLine SC 129,

Dharam Singh & Ors vs. State of U.P. & Anr., reported in

2025 SCC OnLine SC 1735.

Arguments of the learned counsel for the Respondents: -

4.    Learned counsel for the respondents submitted that the

learned   Tribunal's      order      dated      30.07.2024          is   passed   after

thoroughly considering the documents available on record and

learned Tribunal acted in full compliance with the remand order

dated 02.11.2022 passed by this Court. He further submitted that

the applicant did not produce sufficient documentary evidence of

applying for converting his status of part time to full time, that's

why his claim was rejected by learned Tribunal as well the

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applicant never gave reasons for the long delay in filing original

applications before the learned Tribunal.

4.1.    Learned         counsel        submitted           regarding        applicant's

representation dated 10.04.2017, that it was not considered

because the applicant has joined service in 1999 and that is why

his case could not be brought under the ambit of Casual Labour

(Grant of Temporary Status and Regularization) Scheme, 1991 as

the cut-off date in the said Scheme was 07.06.1988. No

appointment letter exists in applicant's case and in the name of

appointment letter he has only produced a payment voucher of

the year 1999. He further submitted that the applicant was, hired

as a part time employee for limited duration of work each day at

Sub Post Office, Shastri Nagar, Jodhpur. The applicant was not

working on any civil post or fixed post or sanctioned post at the

Sub Post Office, Shastri Nagar, Jodhpur and because of the

temporary requirements of the post, the applicant's case was not

at all fit for consideration for regularization, even his payment was

made from contingency fund, which was allotted by the concerned

department to manage extra expenses of the Sub Post Office of

Shastri Nagar, Jodhpur.

4.2. Learned counsel countered the original applicant's claim of

parity with Vijesh Kumar's case, while submitting that the learned

Tribunal had also given a correct finding upon the above

mentioned     aspect      in    the    applicant's        case      and   had   rightly

distinguished his case from Vijesh Kumar's case, not just once but

twice. The applicant had joined services in 1999 as per records

available, whereas Vijesh Kumar joined services on 1983. Vijesh

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Kumar had claimed status of full time employee while relying upon

the circular dated 08.04.1991 named as Casual Labour (Grant of

Temporary Status and Regularisation) Scheme, 1991, whereas,

applicant in the present matter did not claim any such benefits

until 2017. Even then applicant was only relying upon parity with

Vijesh Kumar, which was far from any kind of similarity. Vijesh

kumar's regularization order was sanctioned because of order of

the learned Tribunal, which was affirmed by this Court, whereas,

the applicant was not able to satisfy the learned Tribunal as well

as this Court for granting a favourable order of identical kind in his

favour.

4.3. Unfortunately, the original applicant passed away during the

pendency of this litigation, and after his death, the surviving cause

of action in this matter, itself ceased to exist, therefore, the claim

of applicant's family should be rejected. There remains no

benefits, which can be given to his family. The claimed pension

benefits by the legal representative - wife of the applicant cannot

be entertained as the applicant in his life time, served as part time

employee and no liability can be now created upon the respondent

department to pay pensionary benefits by any relevant laws.

4.4. The claim of applicant belonging to economically weaker

section and strained financial situation, does not create any

liability towards respondent authorities. He had waived his rights

and has been guilty of forfeiting his rights through inaction, as he

had accepted the situation by not approaching the concerned

authorities for long period of time.




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4.5. Learned counsel also drew attention of this Court towards

affidavit filed in the year of 2019, where the age of the applicant

was mentioned as 50 years, which means, he was born on 1969,

accordingly making the age of applicant 15 years only is the year

1984. Thus, even if applicant's statement is considered true, then

he will be considered as minor at the time of joining, therefore, as

per the settled principles of Contract law, any contract executed

by minor is void ab initio.

4.6. Learned counsel relied on the following judgments to support

his contentions:

State of U.P. & Ors. vs Arvind Kumar Srivastava & Ors.,

reported in (2015) 1 SCC 347 and State of Orissa & Anr. vs

Mamata Mohanty, reported in (2011) 3 SCC 436.

Analysis & Reasoning: -

5.    This Court has given careful consideration to the submissions

made by the learned counsel for both the sides and perused the

material available on record.

6.    This Court, in earlier round of litigation, vide order dated

02.11.2022 had already overruled the ground of delay in terms of

M.R. Gupta (supra) and remanded back the matter for its

consideration on merits. Learned Tribunal has thereafter dismissed

the said application vide order dated 30.07.2024 while holding

that the case of the original applicant is not on the same footing

or similar with the case of Vijesh Kumar.

7.    The original applicant has filed two documents apart from

representation dated 10.04.2017, one is of dated 26.10.1990

(Annexure-1 of O.A.) and in the second document, date is not

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mentioned (Annexure-1 of O.A.). These documents fortified the

fact that the original applicant has approached multiple times with

his grievances and continuously served at the same office. Not

only this, the applicant has further filed an additional affidavit

before this Court also along with certain documents being the

representations filed by the applicant before the respondent for

grant of pay scale and regular status. The representations are

dated 22.08.1995, 04.10.2000 and 20.05.2015. The respondents

have not disputed the factum of filing of such representations.

8.    Thus, the averment made with regard to original applicant

not pursing his matter even post passing of order by the learned

Tribunal in case of Vijesh Kumar is without any basis. The above-

mentioned documents as well as the documents placed before the

learned Tribunal fortify the fact of the original applicant pursuing

the case since long, initially for grant of pay scale and thereafter

for regularization and grant of status of permanent employee.

Thus, the finding given by the learned Tribunal with regard to

original applicant not pursuing the case till the year 2019 and

directly for the first time filing the O.A. in the year 2019 is without

any basis.

9.    The original applicant's claim of parity with Vijesh Kumar's

case was not fairly dealt with by the learned Tribunal as both the

employees had joined the service during the year 1983 & 1984

respectively, had performed the similar nature of work at different

branches, but of the same department (Department of Posts,

Govt. of India), and they had approached respective authorities

with representations, multiple times citing the same grievances.

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Just because, the original applicant has not approached the

learned Tribunal immediately when Vijesh Kumar was granted

benefits, the principles of equality and fairness do not diminish.

The objection of being minor at the time of appointment was

considered in the case of Vijesh Kumar also and negated at the

threshold by the learned Tribunal and this Court also. Therefore, it

should not become a valid ground to reject the original applicant's

claim as well.

10.   Furthermore, there is substance in the argument of the

learned counsel for the original applicant with regard to parity of

the case of Vijesh Kumar with the case of original applicant

inasmuch as Vijesh Kumar was appointed in the year 1983 and

was also appointed as a part-time employee and posted at Post

Office, Kacheri. He was also engaged as a Sweeper and thereafter,

he filed an O.A. wherein direction was issued to treat him as a full-

time casual labour rather than part-time casual labour. The

respondents negated the claim by way of order dated 09.01.2007

while observing that he was working at the Kacheri Post Office just

for 2 hours and 25 minutes each day and therefore, status of full-

time casual labour could not be granted.

11.   Above-mentioned order was subsequently withdrawn and he

was granted status of regular employee post passing of fresh

order by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal which was

upheld    by     this   Court      vide     order       dated       17.12.2009.   The

respondents had thereafter passed the order dated 22.03.2011

granting Vijesh Kumar the status of a regular employee on the

post of MTS (Group-C) and a consequential order was passed on

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25.07.2011. The documents available on record clearly reveal that

as far as the petitioner is concerned, he was appointed in the year

1984 and had been working continuously under the respondent-

Department since then. His wages were increased by the

respondent-Department on representations filed by him and the

nature of work was identical and he was discharging the duties as

a full-time employee. The case of the original applicant cannot be

distinguished with that of Vijesh Kumar as while granting the

benefit of circular issued by respondent-Department themselves,

the same benefit was applicable to the original applicant also.

12.   Simply because the petitioner had not filed an earlier O.A.

seeking the status of a full-time employee would make no

difference whatsoever, more particularly, in view of the fact that

identical relief was granted to similarly situated Vijesh Kumar and

thereafter he was regularized. The original applicant by way of the

O.A. in question had prayed for grant of same benefits as granted

to Vijesh Kumar and the respondents were not able to point out

distinction between services rendered by the original applicant and

Vijesh Kumar. Learned Tribunal was thus apparently at fault in not

granting   the    same       benefit      to    the     original    applicant   more

particularly when the averment made by the original applicant

with regard to discharging duties full-time and working since the

year 1984 have not been disputed by the respondents themselves

in their reply filed before the learned Tribunal. Rather in the reply

to the present writ petition the respondents have tried to make

out an entirely different case while emphasizing that the original

applicant was appointed in the year 1999, whereas the documents

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available on record show that the averments made are without

any substance and just an afterthought with a view to deny the

benefits to the original applicant which have been granted to

Vijesh Kumar.

13.   As far as the issue of regularization is concerned, the Hon'ble

Supreme Court and this Court as well, have given catena of

rulings as to when services of a part time, contractual, daily-

wager, or casual employee are entitled to be regularized with

consequential benefits of regular pay scale and other benefits.

14.   In the matters of regularization, the Courts have consistently

balanced the need for fair recruitment processes vis-a-vis the

prevention and exploitation of employees through indefinite

temporariness of service. The foundational ruling remains the

Constitution Bench decision in Secretary, State of Karnataka

vs. Uma Devi, reported in (2006) 4 SCC 1. This judgment

aimed to curb backdoor entries and has also issued guidelines as

to when regularization orders should be passed.

15.   In Jaggo vs. Union of India & Ors. (supra), the Hon'ble

Supreme Court has observed as under: -

       "10. Having given careful consideration to the submissions
       advanced and the material on record, we find that the appellants'
       long and uninterrupted service, for periods extending well beyond
       ten years, cannot be brushed aside merely by labelling their
       initial appointments as part-time or contractual. The essence of
       their employment must be considered in the light of their
       sustained contribution, the integral nature of their work, and the
       fact that no evidence suggests their entry was through any illegal
       or surreptitious route.
                                           ***

20. It is well established that the decision in Uma Devi (supra) does not intend to penalize employees who have rendered long years of service fulfilling ongoing and necessary functions of the State or its instrumentalities. The said judgment sought to prevent backdoor entries and illegal appointments that (Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (15 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] circumvent constitutional requirements. However, where appointments were not illegal but possibly "irregular," and where employees had served continuously against the backdrop of sanctioned functions for a considerable period, the need for a fair and humane resolution becomes paramount. Prolonged, continuous, and unblemished service performing tasks inherently required on a regular basis can, over the time, transform what was initially ad-hoc or temporary into a scenario demanding fair regularization. In a recent judgment of this Court in Vinod Kumar v. Union of India, it was held that held that procedural formalities cannot be used to deny regularization of service to an employee whose appointment was termed "temporary" but has performed the same duties as performed by the regular employee over a considerable period in the capacity of the regular employee. The relevant paras of this judgment have been reproduced below:

"6. The application of the judgment in Uma Devi (supra) by the High Court does not fit squarely with the facts at hand, given the specific circumstances under which the appellants were employed and have continued their service. The reliance on procedural formalities at the outset cannot be used to perpetually deny substantive rights that have accrued over a considerable period through continuous service. Their promotion was based on a specific notification for vacancies and a subsequent circular, followed by a selection process involving written tests and interviews, which distinguishes their case from the appointments through back door entry as discussed in the case of Uma Devi (supra).
7. The judgment in the case Uma Devi (supra) also distinguished between "irregular" and "illegal" appointments underscoring the importance of considering certain appointments even if were not made strictly in accordance with the prescribed Rules and Procedure, cannot be said to have been made illegally if they had followed the procedures of regular appointments such as conduct of written examinations or interviews as in the present case..."

21. The High Court placed undue emphasis on the initial label of the appellants' engagements and the outsourcing decision taken after their dismissal. Courts must look beyond the surface labels and consider the realities of employment : continuous, long-term service, indispensable duties, and absence of any mala fide or illegalities in their appointments. In that light, refusing regularization simply because their original terms did not explicitly state so, or because an outsourcing policy was belatedly introduced, would be contrary to principles of fairness and equity.

22. The pervasive misuse of temporary employment contracts, as exemplified in this case, reflects a broader systemic issue that adversely affects workers' rights and job security. In the private sector, the rise of the gig economy has led to an increase in precarious employment arrangements, often characterized by lack of benefits, job security, and fair treatment. Such practices have been criticized for exploiting workers and undermining labour standards. Government institutions, entrusted with upholding the principles of fairness and justice, bear an even greater responsibility to avoid such exploitative employment practices.

(Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (16 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] When public sector entities engage in misuse of temporary contracts, it not only mirrors the detrimental trends observed in the gig economy but also sets a concerning precedent that can erode public trust in governmental operations.

23. The International Labour Organization (ILO), of which India is a founding member, has consistently advocated for employment stability and the fair treatment of workers. The ILO's Multinational Enterprises Declaration encourages companies to provide stable employment and to observe obligations concerning employment stability and social security. It emphasizes that enterprises should assume a leading role in promoting employment security, particularly in contexts where job discontinuation could exacerbate long-term unemployment.

24. The landmark judgment of the United State in the case of Vizcaino v. Microsoft Corporation serves as a pertinent example from the private sector, illustrating the consequences of misclassifying employees to circumvent providing benefits. In this case, Microsoft classified certain workers as independent contractors, thereby denying them employee benefits. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit determined that these workers were, in fact, common-law employees and were entitled to the same benefits as regular employees. The Court noted that large Corporations have increasingly adopted the practice of hiring temporary employees or independent contractors as a means of avoiding payment of employee benefits, thereby increasing their profits. This judgment underscores the principle that the nature of the work performed, rather than the label assigned to the worker, should determine employment status and the corresponding rights and benefits. It highlights the judiciary's role in rectifying such misclassifications and ensuring that workers receive fair treatment.

25. It is a disconcerting reality that temporary employees, particularly in government institutions, often face multifaceted forms of exploitation. While the foundational purpose of temporary contracts may have been to address short-term or seasonal needs, they have increasingly become a mechanism to evade long-term obligations owed to employees. These practices manifest in several ways:

• Misuse of "Temporary" Labels: Employees engaged for work that is essential, recurring, and integral to the functioning of an institution are often labeled as "temporary" or "contractual," even when their roles mirror those of regular employees. Such misclassification deprives workers of the dignity, security, and benefits that regular employees are entitled to, despite performing identical tasks.
• Arbitrary Termination: Temporary employees are frequently dismissed without cause or notice, as seen in the present case. This practice undermines the principles of natural justice and subjects workers to a state of constant insecurity, regardless of the quality or duration of their service.
• Lack of Career Progression: Temporary employees often find themselves excluded from opportunities for skill development, (Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (17 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] promotions, or incremental pay raises. They remain stagnant in their roles, creating a systemic disparity between them and their regular counterparts, despite their contributions being equally significant.
• Using Outsourcing as a Shield: Institutions increasingly resort to outsourcing roles performed by temporary employees, effectively replacing one set of exploited workers with another. This practice not only perpetuates exploitation but also demonstrates a deliberate effort to bypass the obligation to offer regular employment.
• Denial of Basic Rights and Benefits: Temporary employees are often denied fundamental benefits such as pension, provident fund, health insurance, and paid leave, even when their tenure spans decades. This lack of social security subjects them and their families to undue hardship, especially in cases of illness, retirement, or unforeseen circumstances.

26. While the judgment in Uma Devi (supra) sought to curtail the practice of backdoor entries and ensure appointments adhered to constitutional principles, it is regrettable that its principles are often misinterpreted or misapplied to deny legitimate claims of long-serving employees. This judgment aimed to distinguish between "illegal" and "irregular" appointments. It categorically held that employees in irregular appointments, who were engaged in duly sanctioned posts and had served continuously for more than ten years, should be considered for regularization as a one- time measure. However, the laudable intent of the judgment is being subverted when institutions rely on its dicta to indiscriminately reject the claims of employees, even in cases where their appointments are not illegal, but merely lack adherence to procedural formalities. Government departments often cite the judgment in Uma Devi (supra) to argue that no vested right to regularization exists for temporary employees, overlooking the judgment's explicit acknowledgment of cases where regularization is appropriate. This selective application distorts the judgment's spirit and purpose, effectively weaponizing it against employees who have rendered indispensable services over decades.

27. In light of these considerations, in our opinion, it is imperative for government departments to lead by example in providing fair and stable employment. Engaging workers on a temporary basis for extended periods, especially when their roles are integral to the organization's functioning, not only contravenes international labour standards but also exposes the organization to legal challenges and undermines employee morale. By ensuring fair employment practices, government institutions can reduce the burden of unnecessary litigation, promote job security, and uphold the principles of justice and fairness that they are meant to embody. This approach aligns with international standards and sets a positive precedent for the private sector to follow, thereby contributing to the overall betterment of labour practices in the country."

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16. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Dharam Singh & Ors vs. State of U.P. & Anr. (supra) has observed as under:-

"11. Furthermore, it must be clarified that the reliance placed by the High Court on Umadevi (Supra) to non-suit the appellants is misplaced. Unlike Umadevi (Supra), the challenge before us is not an invitation to bypass the constitutional scheme of public employment. It is a challenge to the State's arbitrary refusals to sanction posts despite the employer's own acknowledgement of need and decades of continuous reliance on the very workforce. On the other hand, Umadevi (Supra) draws a distinction between illegal appointments and irregular engagements and does not endorse the perpetuation of precarious employment where the work itself is permanent and the State has failed, for years, to put its house in order. Recent decisions of this Court in Jaggo v. Union of India and in Shripal v. Nagar Nigam, Ghaziabad have emphatically cautioned that Umadevi (Supra) cannot be deployed as a shield to justify exploitation through long-term "ad hocism", the use of outsourcing as a proxy, or the denial of basic parity where identical duties are exacted over extended periods. The principles articulated therein apply with full force to the present case. The relevant paras from Shripal (supra) have been reproduced hereunder:
"14. The Respondent Employer places reliance on Umadevi (supra) to contend that daily-wage or temporary employees cannot claim permanent absorption in the absence of statutory rules providing such absorption. However, as frequently reiterated, Uma Devi itself distinguishes between appointments that are "illegal" and those that are "irregular," the latter being eligible for regularization if they meet certain conditions. More importantly, Uma Devi cannot serve as a shield to justify exploitative engagements persisting for years without the Employer undertaking legitimate recruitment. Given the record which shows no true contractor-based arrangement and a consistent need for permanent horticultural staff the alleged asserted ban on fresh recruitment, though real, cannot justify indefinite daily-wage status or continued unfair practices.
15. It is manifest that the Appellant Workmen continuously rendered their services over several years, sometimes spanning more than a decade. Even if certain muster rolls were not produced in full, the Employer's failure to furnish such records-despite directions to do so-allows an adverse inference under well-established labour jurisprudence. Indian labour law strongly disfavors perpetual daily-wage or contractual engagements in circumstances where the work is permanent in nature. Morally and legally, workers who fulfil ongoing municipal requirements year after year cannot be dismissed summarily as dispensable, particularly in the absence of a genuine contractor agreement.........

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17. Before concluding, we think it necessary to recall that the State (here referring to both the Union and the State governments) is not a mere market participant but a constitutional employer. It cannot balance budgets on the backs of those who perform the most basic and recurring public functions. Where work recurs day after day and year after year, the establishment must reflect that reality in its sanctioned strength and engagement practices. The long-term extraction of regular labour under temporary labels corrodes confidence in public administration and offends the promise of equal protection. Financial stringency certainly has a place in public policy, but it is not a talisman that overrides fairness, reason and the duty to organise work on lawful lines.

18. Moreover, it must necessarily be noted that "ad-hocism"

thrives where administration is opaque. The State Departments must keep and produce accurate establishment registers, muster rolls and outsourcing arrangements, and they must explain, with evidence, why they prefer precarious engagement over sanctioned posts where the work is perennial. If "constraint" is invoked, the record should show what alternatives were considered, why similarly placed workers were treated differently, and how the chosen course aligns with Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India. Sensitivity to the human consequences of prolonged insecurity is not sentimentality. It is a constitutional discipline that should inform every decision affecting those who keep public offices running."

17. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, recently in Bhola Nath vs The State of Jharkhand & Ors., (supra) has held as under:-

"State as model employer: -
11. At the outset, we find it necessary to express our disapproval of the manner in which the High Court has approached the present lis.

The controversy before the Court was not one of mere acquiescence or implied waiver of rights. The High Court, in our view, has proceeded on a mechanical application of precedents without engaging with the core constitutional issues involved, thereby reducing the dispute to one of acceptance of contractual terms, divorced from its larger constitutional context.

11.1. This Court has consistently held that the State, being a model employer, is saddled with a heightened obligation in the discharge of its functions. A model employer is expected to act with high probity, fairness and candour, and bears a social responsibility to treat its employees in a manner that preserves their dignity. The State cannot be permitted to exploit its employees or to take advantage of their vulnerability, helplessness or unequal bargaining position.

11.2. It therefore follows that the State is required to exercise heightened caution in its role as an employer, the constitutional mandate casting upon it a strict obligation to act as a model employer, an obligation from which no exception can be countenanced.

Fundamental Rights and their waiver:

(Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (20 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] 11.3. In the present case, the appellants were appointed by the respondent-State against sanctioned posts of Junior Engineers (Agriculture), with the engagement being described from the inception as contractual in nature. The terms and conditions governing the engagement stipulated that the appointment would be for an initial period of one year, extendable thereafter subject to satisfactory performance.
11.4. The respondent-State accordingly granted extensions to the appellants from time to time until the year 2023, when it was expressly clarified that the extension being granted would be the last.

It was thereafter that the appellants approached the High Court by filing writ petitions seeking a writ of mandamus directing the State to regularize their services.

11.5. The consistent case of the appellants has been that the respondent-State's refusal to grant regularization is arbitrary and therefore warrants judicial interference. Article 14 of the Constitution casts a negative obligation upon the State to treat all persons equally, and arbitrariness, being antithetical to the equality principle, is proscribed as violative of Article 14.

11.6. The Constitution Bench in Basheshar Nath v. Comm. Income Tax, long ago clarified that fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution are incapable of waiver. Consequently, if the action of the respondent-State is found to be violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, the mere fact that the appellants' engagement was governed by contractual terms and conditions cannot be construed as a waiver of their fundamental rights.

Unconscionable Agreements- Contract between Lion and Lamb:

12. In Central Inland Water Transport Corpn. v. Brojo Nath Ganguly, this Court acknowledged the increasing imbalance in the bargaining power of contracting parties. The Court held thus: -

"89. . . . We have a Constitution for our country. Our judges are bound by their oath to "uphold the Constitution and the laws". The Constitution was enacted to secure to all the citizens of this country social and economic justice. Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees to all persons equality before the law and the equal protection of the laws. The principle deducible from the above discussions on this part of the case is in consonance with right and reason, intended to secure social and economic justice and conforms to the mandate of the great equality clause in Article 14. This principle is that the courts will not enforce and will, when called upon to do so, strike down an unfair and unreasonable contract, or an unfair and unreasonable clause in a contract, entered into between parties who are not equal in bargaining power. It is difficult to give an exhaustive list of all bargains of this type. No court can visualize the different situations which can arise in the affairs of men. One can only attempt to give some illustrations. For instance, the above principle will apply where the inequality of bargaining power is the result of the great disparity in the economic strength of the contracting parties. It will apply where the inequality is the result of circumstances, whether of the creation of the parties or not. It will apply to situations in which the weaker party is in aposition in which he can obtain goods or services or means of livelihood only upon the terms imposed by the stronger party or go without them. It will also (Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (21 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] apply where a man has no choice, or rather no meaningful choice, but to give his assent to a contract or to sign on the dotted line in a prescribed or standard form or to accept a set of rules as part of the contract, however unfair, unreasonable and unconscionable a clause in that contract or form or rules may be. This principle, however, will not apply where the bargaining power of the contracting parties is equal or almost equal. This principle may not apply where both parties are businessmen and the contract is a commercial transaction. In today's complex world of giant corporations with their vast infrastructural organizations and with the State through its instrumentalities and agencies entering into almost every branch of industry and commerce, there can be myriad situations which result in unfair and unreasonable bargains between parties possessing wholly disproportionate and unequal bargaining power. These cases can neither be enumerated nor fully illustrated. The court must judge each case on its own facts and circumstances."

(emphasis laid) Therefore, the Court has held that the Constitution obliges courts to advance social and economic justice and to give effect to the equality mandate under Article 14. Consequently, courts will neither enforce nor hesitate to invalidate contracts, or contractual clauses, that are unfair or unreasonable when entered into between parties with unequal bargaining power.

12.1. Relying on the aforesaid reasoning, another two-Judge Bench in Pani Ram v. Union of India, reiterated that the guarantee of equality under Article 14 extends even to situations where a person has no meaningful choice but to accept imposed contractual terms, however unfair or unreasonable they may be. Applying this principle to the facts before it, the Court observed thus: -

"23. As held by this Court, a right to equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution of India would also apply to a man who has no choice or rather no meaningful choice, but to give his assent to a contract or to sign on the dotted line in a prescribed or standard form or to accept a set of rules as part of the contract, however unfair, unreasonable and unconscionable a clause in that contract or form or rules may be. We find that the said observations rightly apply to the facts of the present case. Can it be said that the mighty Union of India and an ordinary soldier, who having fought for the country and retired from Regular Army, seeking re- employment in the Territorial Army, have an equal bargaining power. We are therefore of the considered view that the reliance placed on the said document would also be of no assistance to the case of the respondents."

(emphasis laid) Therefore, it is clear that Courts are empowered to invalidate unconscionable elements of a contract where the parties lack the ability to exercise any real or meaningful choice in negotiating its terms. In the present case, the appellants were left with no alternative but to accept the conditions unilaterally prescribed by the respondent-State in order to secure their livelihood and sustain a source of income. It would be entirely unrealistic to assume that, in such circumstances, an employee seeking temporary employment could meaningfully negotiate (Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (22 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] or assert a position against the overwhelming might of the State machinery.

12.2. At this juncture, the analogy of apples and oranges serves as a useful reminder that certain relationships are inherently incapable of being assessed on an equal plane. A contract between the State and an employee stands on a similar footing. The State, in such a relationship, assumes the role of a metaphorical lion, endowed with overwhelming authority, resources and bargaining strength, whereas the employee, who is yet an aspirant, is reduced to the position of a metaphorical lamb, possessing little real negotiating power. To suggest parity between the two, i.e. the lion and the lamb, would be to ignore the stark imbalance that defines the relationship.

12.3. Therefore, where a lion contracts with a lamb, the inequality is not incidental but structural, and it is precisely this disproportion that calls for judicial sensitivity. In such situations, the conscience of Constitutional Courts must inevitably tilt in favour of protecting the lamb. We have no hesitation in holding that Constitutional Courts are duty-bound to act to safeguard those who are vulnerable to exploitation, so that employees are not compelled to meekly submit to the demands of a vastly dominant contracting party like the State, but are instead assured that constitutional protections will intervene to prevent such exploitation.

Legitimate Expectation of the employees: -

13. Another facet requiring consideration in the case of contractual employees, such as the present appellants, is the doctrine of legitimate expectation. Where employees have continued to discharge their duties on contractual posts for a considerable length of time, as in the present case, it is but natural that a legitimate expectation arises that the State would, at some stage, recognize their long and continuous service. It is in this belief, bolstered by repeated extensions granted by the Executive, that such employees continue in service and refrain from seeking alternative employment, notwithstanding the contractual nature of their engagement. At this juncture, it is thus apposite to advert to the principles governing the doctrine of legitimate expectation as enunciated by this Court in Army Welfare Education Society v. Sunil Kumar Sharma, wherein it was held as follows: -

"63. A reading of the aforesaid decisions brings forth the following features regarding the doctrine of legitimate expectation:
63.1. First, legitimate expectation must be based on a right as opposed to a mere hope, wish or anticipation;
63.2. Secondly, legitimate expectation must arise either from an express or implied promise; or a consistent past practice or custom followed by an authority in its dealings;
...
63.5. Fifthly, legitimate expectation operates in the realm of public law, that is, a plea of legitimate action can be taken only when a public authority breaches a promise or deviates from a consistent past practice, without any reasonable basis.

...

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64. The aforesaid features, although not exhaustive in nature, are sufficient to help us in deciding the applicability of the doctrine of legitimate expectation to the facts of the case at hand. It is clear that legitimate expectation, jurisprudentially, was a device created in order to maintain a check on arbitrariness in State action. It does not extend to and cannot govern the operation of contracts between private parties, wherein the doctrine of promissory estoppel holds the field."

(emphasis laid) It is, therefore, not difficult to comprehend the expectation with which such contractual employees continue in the service of the State. The repeated conduct of the employer-State in expressing confidence in their performance and consistently granting monetary upgrades & tenure extensions reasonably nurtures an expectation that their long and continuous service would receive further recognition.

13.1. Another Constitution Bench in State of Karnataka v. Umadevi, cautioned that the doctrine of legitimate expectation cannot ordinarily be extended to persons whose appointments are temporary, casual or contractual in nature. The relevant extract of the judgment reads as follows: -

"47. When a person enters a temporary employment or gets engagement as a contractual or casual worker and the engagement is not based on a proper selection as recognised by the relevant rules or procedure, he is aware of the consequences of the appointment being temporary, casual or contractual in nature. Such a person cannot invoke the theory of legitimate expectation for being confirmed in the post when an appointment to the post could be made only by following a proper procedure for selection and in cases concerned, in consultation with the Public Service Commission. Therefore, the theory of legitimate expectation cannot be successfully advanced by temporary, contractual or casual employees. It cannot also be held that the State has held out any promise while engaging these persons either to continue them where they are or to make them permanent. The State cannot constitutionally make such a promise. It is also obvious that the theory cannot be invoked to seek a positive relief of being made permanent in the post." (emphasis laid) However, this Court in Umadevi (supra) clarified that the bar against invocation of the doctrine of legitimate expectation applies only to those temporary, contractual or casual employees whose engagement was not preceded by a proper selection process in accordance with the extant rules. Consequently, where such engagement is made after following a due and lawful selection procedure, there is no absolute bar in law preventing such employees from invoking the doctrine of legitimate expectation.
Limits on Perpetual Contractual Engagements:
13.2. In the present case, the respondent-State had engaged the services of the appellants on sanctioned posts since the year 2012. It was only towards the end of the year 2022 that the respondents communicated that no further extension of the appellants' engagement was likely to be granted.

(Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (24 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] 13.3. In our considered opinion, the aforesaid action is not only vitiated by arbitrariness but is also in clear derogation of the equality principles enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution. The respondent- State initially engaged the appellants in their youth to discharge public duties and functions. Having rendered long and dedicated service, the appellants cannot now be left to fend for themselves, particularly when the employment opportunities that may have been available to them a decade ago are no longer accessible owing to age constraints.

13.4. We are unable to discern any rational basis for the respondent- State's decision to discontinue the appellants after nearly ten years of continuous service.We are conscious that the symbiotic-relationship between the appellants and the respondent-State was mutually beneficial, the State derived the advantage of the appellants' experience and institutional familiarity, while the appellants remained in public service. In such circumstances, any departure from a long- standing practice of renewal, particularly one that frustrates the legitimate expectation of the employees, ought to be supported by cogent reasons recorded in a speaking order.

13.5. Such a decision must necessarily be a conscious and reasoned one. An employee who has satisfactorily discharged his duties over several years and has been granted repeated extensions cannot, overnight, be treated as surplus or undesirable. We are unable to accept the justification advanced by the respondents as the obligation of the State, as a model employer, extends to fair treatment of its employees irrespective of whether their engagement is contractual or regular.

13.6. This Court has, on several occasions, deprecated the practice adopted by States of engaging employees under the nominal labels of "part-time", "contractual" or "temporary" in perpetuity and thereby exploiting them by not regularizing their positions. In Jaggo v. Union of India, this Court underscored that government-departments must lead by example in ensuring fair and stable employment, and evolved the test of examining whether the duties performed by such temporary employees are integral to the day-to-day functioning of the organization.

13.7. In Shripal v. Nagar Nigam and Vinod Kumar v. Union of India, this Court cautioned against a mechanical and blind reliance on Umadevi (supra) to deny regularization to temporary employees in the absence of statutory rules. It was held that Umadevi (supra) cannot be employed as a shield to legitimise exploitative engagements continued for years without undertaking regular recruitment. The Court further clarified that Umadevi itself draws a distinction between appointments that are "illegal" and those that are merely "irregular", the latter being amenable to regularization upon fulfilment of the prescribed conditions.

13.8. In Dharam Singh v. State of U.P., this Court strongly deprecated the culture of " ad-hocism" adopted by States in their capacity as employers. The Court criticised the practice of outsourcing or informalizing recruitment as a means to evade regular employment obligations, observing that such measures perpetuate precarious working conditions while circumventing fair and lawful engagement practices.

(Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (25 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] 13.9. The State must remain conscious that part-time employees, such as the appellants, constitute an integral part of the edifice upon which the machinery of the State continues to function. They are not merely ancillary to the system, but form essential components thereof. The equality mandate of our Constitution, therefore, requires that their service be reciprocated in a manner free from arbitrariness, ensuring that decisions of the State affecting the careers and livelihood of such part-time and contractual employees are guided by fairness and reason.

13.10. In the aforesaid backdrop, we are unable to persuade ourselves to accept the respondent-State's contention that the mere contractual nomenclature of the appellants' engagement denudes them of constitutional protection. The State, having availed of the appellants' services on sanctioned posts for over a decade pursuant to a due process of selection and having consistently acknowledged their satisfactory performance, cannot, in the absence of cogent reasons or a speaking decision, abruptly discontinue such engagement by taking refuge behind formal contractual clauses. Such action is manifestly arbitrary, inconsistent with the obligation of the State to act as a model employer, and fails to withstand scrutiny under Article 14 of the Constitution.

FINAL CONCLUSION:

14. In light of our discussion, in the foregoing paragraphs, we summarize our conclusions as follows:

I. The respondent-State was not justified in continuing the appellants on sanctioned vacant posts for over a decade under the nomenclature of contractual engagement and thereafter denying them consideration for regularization.
II. Abrupt discontinuance of such long-standing engagement solely on the basis of contractual nomenclature, without either recording cogent reasons or passing a speaking order, is manifestly arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
III. Contractual stipulations purporting to bar claims for regularization cannot override constitutional guarantees. Acceptance of contractual terms does not amount to waiver of fundamental rights, and contractual stipulations cannot immunize arbitrary State action from constitutional scrutiny.
IV. The State, as a model employer, cannot rely on contractual labels or mechanical application of Umadevi (supra) to justify prolonged ad- hocism or to discard long-serving employees in a manner inconsistent with fairness, dignity and constitutional governance.
V. In view of the foregoing discussion, we direct the respondent-State to forthwith regularize the services of all the appellants against the sanctioned posts to which they were initially appointed. The appellants shall be entitled to all consequential service benefits accruing from the date of this judgment."
18. The above referred judgments form a notable evolving jurisprudence that builds on with cautions against mechanical (Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (26 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] application of the Constitution Bench decision in Uma Devi (supra). These judgments represent a push against the culture of 'ad-hocism' and precarious employment in the public sector.
19. These principles are governed by Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. When an employee has served for more than 10 years and his request for regularization is arbitrarily denied or his service discontinued without any cogent reasons or speaking order, then it is 'manifestly arbitrary' which violates Article 14 of Constitution of India. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Dharam Singh (supra) and Bhola Nath (supra) reaffirmed that the arguments of procedural formalities, financial constraints and lack of sanctioned post cannot be a basis to deny the regularization where the State has extracted regular labour under the label of temporariness. State's duty prevails as a 'Model Employer' under the ambit of Article 14 and when an employee have rendered long and satisfactory service on the same post, he is entitled for regularization rather than continuing as temporary or ad-hoc.

20. In Bhola Nath (supra), the Hon'ble supreme Court while citing Basheshar Nath v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi & Rajasthan and Anr., reported in AIR 1959 SC 149, reiterated that fundamental rights guaranteed under the Article 14 of Constitution of India are incapable of waiver. The Hon'ble Supreme Court further held that approach of deciding these disputes of regularization, citing mere acquiescence or waiver of rights, is reducing the dispute to one of acceptance of contractual terms and is thus, divorced from its larger constitutional context.

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21. In the present petition, the arguments of learned counsel for the respondents regarding no sanctioned post existing and original applicant's salary being paid from contingency fund is of no use as the fact of continuous service of original applicant established that there was a vacant post and the respondent authorities were extracting work from him by paying him tuppence under the guise of part time employment status. The nature of the work of the original applicant was perennial in nature and nobody else was working on the post of Sweeper, thus, the existence of the permanent sanctioned post can be inferred from the facts of the present case as also the work of sweeping and cleaning being of nature of full time work.

22. The argument made by the learned counsel for the respondents, as also observed by the learned Tribunal, with regard to converting the status of the deceased original applicant from part-time to full-time casual labour does not arise post his death is noted to be rejected. By the widest stretch of imagination, can such an averment cannot be accepted as it is not supported by any legal principle emphasizing the fact that post death of an employee the status cannot be changed. Rather, the Division Bench of this Court while deciding D.B. Civil Writ Petition No.141/2020 vide its order dated 02.11.2022, in the first round of the litigation qua the original applicant, has observed that post his death his wife has already been taken on record and directed the respondents to consider the issue of regularization. The Court was conscious of the fact that post his death also, the right to sue survives in favour of his wife and the relief prayed for can be (Uploaded on 29/04/2026 at 01:55:29 PM) (Downloaded on 29/04/2026 at 05:42:33 PM) [2026:RJ-JD:17883-DB] (28 of 28) [CW-6974/2025] granted. Even otherwise, as observed by the learned Division Bench, the case in hand was a case of continuous cause of action.

In that case, the death of the deceased would make no difference whatsoever as the benefits accruing from the order can be reaped by the legal representatives of the deceased.

23. Accordingly, the present writ petition is allowed. The impugned order dated 30.07.2024 passed in O.A. No.71/2019 :"Lrs of Applicant: Smt. Kusum w/o Late Sunny vs. Union of India" is quashed and set aside.

24. In light of the above discussion, it is directed that the original applicant is entitled for grant of same relief as has been granted to Vijesh Kumar from the same date that is from 25.07.2011. The services of the original applicant shall be regularized on the post of MTS (Group-C) w.e.f. 25.07.2011 and all consequential benefits including pensionary (if applicable) and other benefit shall be paid by the respondents to the original applicant within a period of three months from today.

25. No order as to cost.

26. All pending applications, if any, stand disposed off.

(SANDEEP SHAH),J (DR. PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI),J 27-charul/-

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