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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 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.