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“4. But, sometimes this process is not adhered to and the
Constitutional scheme of public employment is by-passed. The Union,
the States, their departments and instrumentalities have resorted to
irregular appointments, especially in the lower rungs of the service,
without reference to the duty to ensure a proper appointment
procedure through the Public Service Commission or otherwise as per
the rules adopted and to permit these irregular appointees or those
appointed on contract or on daily wages, to continue year after year,
thus, keeping out those who are qualified to apply for the post
concerned and depriving them of an opportunity to compete for the
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post. It has also led to persons who get employed, without the
following of a regular procedure or even through the backdoor or on
daily wages, approaching Courts, seeking directions to make them
permanent in their posts and to prevent regular recruitment to the
concerned posts. Courts have not always kept the legal aspects in
mind and have occasionally even stayed the regular process of
employment being set in motion and in some cases, even directed
that these illegal, irregular or improper entrants be absorbed into
service. A class of employment which can only be called 'litigious
employment', has risen like a phoenix seriously impairing the
constitutional scheme. Such orders are passed apparently in exercise
of the wide powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
Whether the wide powers under Article 226 of the Constitution is
intended to be used for a purpose certain to defeat the concept of
social justice and equal opportunity for all, subject to affirmative
action in the matter of public employment as recognized by our
Constitution, has to be seriously pondered over. It is time, that
Courts desist from issuing orders preventing regular selection or
recruitment at the instance of such persons and from issuing
directions for continuance of those who have not secured regular
appointments as per procedure established. The passing of orders for
continuance, tends to defeat the very Constitutional scheme of public
employment. It has to be emphasized that this is not the role
envisaged for High Courts in the scheme of things and their wide
powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India are not intended
to be used for the purpose of perpetuating illegalities, irregularities or
improprieties or for scuttling the whole scheme of public
employment. Its role as the sentinel and as the guardian of equal
rights protection should not be forgotten.