2026 INSC 431 REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2026 @ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 7138 OF 2025 R. IYYAPPAN & ORS. …APPELLANT(S)

VERSUS UNION OF INDIA & ORS. …RESPONDENT(S)

J U D G M E N T

VIKRAM NATH, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. The present appeal arises out of the final judgment dated 8th July, 2024, passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras¹ in Writ Petition No. 31674 of 2019, whereby the High Court dismissed the writ petition and affirmed the order dated 20th December, 2018, passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras Bench, Digitally signed by in O.A. No. 326 of 2015, rejecting the appellants’ claim for regularisation of their services.

Signature Not Verified

N D E at E e T : U 20 K 2 H 6. A 0 J 4 U .2 R 9 IA 1 Hereinafter, referred to as “High Court”.

1 R 9 e : a 4 s 7 o :4 n :

IST

2 Hereinafter, referred to as “Tribunal”.

3. The brief facts, relevant for the disposal of the present appeal, are as follows: -

3.1. The appellants are daily-wage employees engaged at different points of time between 1991 and 1997 in the Mahendragiri Unit of the respondent-Centre. In 1993, respondent No. 1 formulated a scheme3 conferr