JUDGMENT :

In W.P.(C)No.25209 of 2020, the petitioners are employees of Unit Run Canteens (hereinafter referred to as ‘URC’) working at Mavelikkara extension counter functioning under the administrative control of Army Station Head Quarters, Pangode, Thiruvananthapuram. The URCs are run by the Canteen Stores Department (hereinafter referred to as ‘CSD’), is governed by the Board of Control of Canteen Services (BOCCS), is headed by the Minister of Defence and has members like the Defence Secretary, Secretary of Defence (Finance), the Quarter Master General (QMG). The present form of canteen came into existence in 1947 and the funds for CSD were met from the consolidated fund of India to purchase goods for the trade. Petitioners are either Ex-servicemen or dependent on Ex-Servicemen. They joined the canteens on the basis of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the respondents. After a period of probation, the petitioners will be treated as permanent/temporary employees.

2. The petitioners submit that the respondents are trying to remove the petitioners from their office, and they are to be replaced by contractual employees. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioners have filed th