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( 2026:HHC:16414 )

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA

CWP Nos. 5518, 5516, 5517, 5720,

4607, 5375, 5434, 5553 &

5863/2026

Decided on: 13.05.2026.

1. CWP No. 5518/2026

Manish Chand Katoch …..Petitioner

Versus

Union of India and others ..Respondents

2. CWP No. 5516/2026

Rachita Sharma …..Petitioner

Versus

Union of India and others ..Respondents

3. CWP No. 5517/2026

Toshit Vaidya …..Petitioner

Versus

Union of India and others ..Respondents

4. CWP No. 5720/2026

Naresh Kumar and others …..Petitioners

Versus

National Legal Services Authority & others ..Respondents

5. CWP No. 4607/2026

Vikas Lohia …..Petitioner

Versus

Union of India and others ..Respondents

6. CWP No. 5375/2026

Daulat Ram Bhardwaj …..Petitioner

Versus

Union of India and others ..Respondents

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7. CWP No. 5434/2026

Parveen …..Petitioner

Versus

Union of India and others ..Respondents

8. CWP No. 5553/2026

Ranjeet Singh …..Petitioner

Versus

National Legal Services Authority & others ..Respondents

9. CWP No. 5863/2026

Pariksha Devi and others …..Petitioners

Versus

National Legal Services Authority & others ..Respondents

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Coram

Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua

Whether approved for reporting?

For the hPetitioner(s): Mr. Tara Singh Chauhan, Senior

Advocate with Ms. Yamini Sharma,

Advocate in CWP No.5518, 5516,

5517 & 5434/2026

Ms. Anubhuti Sharma, Advocate in

CWP No.5720, 5553 & 5863/2026

Mr. Suresh Singh Saini, Advocate vice

Mr. Hirdaya Ram, Advocate in CWP

No.4607/2026.

Mr. Prem P. Chauhan, Advocate with

Ms. Ayush Sharma, Advocate in

CWP No.5375/2026

For the Respondents: Mr. Avinash Jaryal, Senior Panel

Counsel, for Union of India in all

petitions except CWP No. 4607/2026.

Mr. Balram Sharma, Deputy Solicitor

General of India with Mr. Rajeev

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Whether reporters of print and electronic media may be allowed to see the order? Yes.

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Sharma, Advocate for Union of India

in CWP No. 4607/2026.

Ms. Rashmi Nand Kumar, Advocate

(through V.C), for National Legal

Services Authority in all petitions.

Mr. Desh Raj Thakur, Advocate, for

H.P. State Legal Services Authority,

District Legal Services Authority &

Secretary, District Legal Services

Authority in all petitfions.

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Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge

All these writ petitions involve common

questions of law and facts, hence, have been taken up

together for adjudication.

2. Petitioners are serving as Legal Aid Defence

Counsel in different capacities on contract basis in

different District Legal Services Authorities in the

respondent- State. Initially, period of their contractual

tenure was one year, extended further from time to time.

H Petitioners’ grievance is to an ofÏce letter issued by

respondent No.3- the Himachal Pradesh State Legal

Services Authority on 30.03.2026 extending their

contractual tenure period only uptill 31.05.2026.

Petitioners are also aggrieved against respondent No.3’s

decision in issuing fresh advertisements for filling up the

posts held by them, again, on contract basis.

3. It is not in dispute that similar legal issue as

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raised in these petitions was involved and decided in

favour of the petitioners in Ramkrishna Soni and

others versus Union of India and others². It is matter

of record that aforesaid decision has been assailed before

the Hon’ble Apex Court in Sunil Kumar Jain & others

versus Union of India and others. Etc.

3. Learned counsel appearing for respondent

No.2- National Legal Services Authority has placed on

record ofÏce letter dated 23.04.2026 issued to all the

Members Secretaries of uall the States/ Union Territory

Legal Services Authoorities directing them to extend the

contractual periCod of Legal Aid Defence Counsel engaged

in the District Legal Services Authorities till the matter is

sub-judice before the Hon’ble Supreme Co