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2006 Supreme(Del) 1597

High Court Of Delhi
MR. JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHlngra
AJAY KUMAR SHARMA - Appellant
Versus
PRESIDING OFFICER - Respondents
W. P. (C) 5730 Of 1999
Decided On : 09/12/2006

Advocates Appeared:
DIVJYOT SINGH, RAJIV AGRAWAL, Savita Malhotra

Temporary employees or casual workers cannot claim to be made permanent or absorbed into regular service.

Headnote:

Regularisation - Employment Rights - The court held that the petitioner, a casual worker, was not entitled to regularisation and reinstatement as claimed, citing the judgment in Himanshu Kumar Vidyarthi v. State of Bihar and Secretary, State of Karnataka and others v. Umadevi and Others. The court emphasized that temporary employees or casual workers cannot claim to be made permanent or absorbed into regular service.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner, a casual worker, claimed entitlement to regularisation and reinstatement after his services were terminated. The respondent's defence was struck off, and the Labour Court observed that the petitioner failed to show any provision entitling him to regularisation.

Finding of the Court:

The court concluded that the petitioner's disengagement did not entitle him to reinstatement or regularisation. It cited the judgment in Himanshu Kumar Vidyarthi v. State of Bihar and Secretary, State of Karnataka and others v. Umadevi and Others to support its decision.

Issues: The issues revolved around the petitioner's claim for regularisation and reinstatement as a casual worker, and the respondent's defence being struck off.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the legal principle that temporary employees or casual workers cannot claim to be made permanent or absorbed into regular service, as established in the judgments Himanshu Kumar Vidyarthi v. State of Bihar and Secretary, State of Karnataka and others v. Umadevi and Others.

Final Decision: The writ petition of the petitioner was dismissed by the court, citing the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the above cases.


SHLV NARAYAN DHLNGRA, J.

( 1 ) BY this writ petition, this petitioner has assailed the validity of award dated dated April 7, 1999 passed by Labour Court VI, Delhi, whereby the Tribunal answered the reference against the petitioner.

( 2 ) BRIEFLY, the facts are that the petitioner claimed that he was working as driver with the respondent with effect from September 1, 1988 as a daily rated/casual/muster roll worker. His services were terminated despite his unblemished record on July 1, 1999, without assigning any reason. He was also not being given the same salary and rights which were being given to the regular drivers, doing identical work with the respondent and it amounted to sheer exploitation. He claimed that he was entitled for regularisation and his termination was not in accordance with section 25-F of Industrial Disputes Act since he had worked for 240 days continuously. No domestic inquiry was held against him for any misconduct. He also claimed that he remained unemployed since July 1, 1999 (sic ). He claimed reinstatement with full back wages.

( 3 ) THE respondent/management in this case, it seems, had not prosecuted the matter and its defence was struck off. The Labour court observed that the petitioner was merely a casual employee who had been employed as a muster roll worker. The petitioner failed to show any provision by which he, became entitled for regularisation. Relying upon the judgment of the Supreme Court in case himanshu Kumar Vidyarthi v. State of Bihar air 1997 SC 3657 : (1997) 4 SCC 391 : 1998-II-LLJ-15 Labour Court answered the reference against the petitioner.

( 4 ) I consider that the trial Court rightly came to conclusion that the petitioner's disengagement did not entitle him for reinstatement as well as regularisation, which was claimed by the petitioner.

( 5 ) IN Secretary, State of Karnataka and others v. Umadevi and Others, 2006 SLT 539 : (2006) 4 SCC 1 : 2006- II-LLJ-722 Supreme court observed that the State is equally controlled by economic considerations. The financial implications of any public employment, the viability of the department or of the instrumentality or of the project is also of equal concern for the State. The Courts cannot impose on the State a financial burden of this nature by insisting on regularisation or permanence in employment of those who are employed temporarily and are not needed permanently or regularly. The burden may become so heavy by such directions that the undertaking itself may collapse under its own weight. The rule of equality in public employment is a basic feature of our constitution. Unless an appointment is in terms of the relevant rules of recruitment after a proper competition amongst qualified persons, the same would not confer any right on the appointee. If an appointment is a contractual appointment, it comes to an end at the end of the project. If it were an engagement or appointment on daily wages or casual basis, the same would come to an end when it is discontinued. A temporary employee cannot claim to be made permanent on the expiry of his terms of appointment. Merely because a temporary employee or casual worker is continued for a time beyond the terms of his appointment, he would not be entitled to be absorbed in regular service or made permanent.

( 6 ) IN view of the law laid down by the supreme Court in above case, I consider that the writ petition of the petitioner has no force and is liable to be dismissed. I, therefore, dismiss the writ petition of the petitioner. No orders as to cost.

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