What is the true nature of the respondent's appointment—regular or contractual—and is it permissible to terminate a contractual appointment under the terms of the contract? What is the scope and standard of judicial review over termination of a contractual public employment by a State instrumentality, and does Article 14 require fairness in such contractual terminations?

Key Points: - The Court determines whether the respondent’s appointment was contractual or regular and that it was contractual, with termination permissible under contract terms (!) (!) . - The appointment was governed by GRIDCO Officers Service Regulations, which for higher grades require contract-based appointments (!) (!) . - Judicial review of termination under public contract is available; review is limited to ensure not arbitrary, irrational, or unfair, but cannot substitute the decision with another view; fairness doctrine can apply to state action even in contractual contexts but not to rewrite contract terms (!) (!) (!) . - The Court held that there was no unreasonableness or unfairness in the termination, and the contract terms allowed termination on three months’ notice or payment in lieu (!) (!) (!) . - The Division Bench’s view that the appointment was regular was overturned; the contract nature was affirmed (!) (!) . - The Regulations explicitly state that appointments above E-9 are contractual; extension depended on Board discretion (!) (!) . - The remedy remains in contract terms, with limited writ-review authority over administrative actions in contractual contexts (!) (!) . - The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and affirmed termination, with directions regarding salary recovery (!) .

What is the true nature of the respondent's appointment—regular or contractual—and is it permissible to terminate a contractual appointment under the terms of the contract?

What is the scope and standard of judicial review over termination of a contractual public employment by a State instrumentality, and does Article 14 require fairness in such contractual terminations?