Editor’s Note
This article reports on a significant judicial directive from the High Court, which has ordered the state government to establish formal rules for the regularization of contract and outsourced workers within six months. This development marks a potential turning point for labor rights and employment security in the region.
The situation regarding the regularization of contract and outsourced employees in the state is set to become clear soon. In this regard, the High Court has issued a historic and significant order, directing the state government to formulate rules related to regularization within six months.
The situation regarding the regularization of contract and outsourced employees in the state is set to become clear soon. In this regard, the High Court has issued a historic and significant order, directing the state government to formulate rules related to regularization within six months. The court has also instructed the government to keep the posts of the petitioner and another similarly placed employee vacant under a recently issued advertisement. The government informed the court that a seven-member high-level committee has been formed to consider the regularization of contract and outsourced employees.
The bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra issued these directions while hearing the case of an Assistant Professor (formerly Lecturer) who has been serving on a contract basis at a nursing college for 15 years. The court also provided significant relief to the Assistant Professor, stating that the petitioner’s service would continue as is until further notice.
According to the case, petitioner Mayank Kumar Jamini was appointed on a contract basis as a Lecturer at the State Nursing College in Dehradun in 2010 after selection. Since then, he has been serving continuously for 15 years. During this period, the post’s designation was changed to Assistant Professor. The petitioner stated that his service was continuously extended without interruption, but now the government issued an advertisement on July 14, 2025, for 16 Assistant Professor posts, which included the post he currently holds. He argued that he fulfills all qualification and experience criteria and has been working for so many years, yet he was neither regularized nor given equal pay for equal work. Furthermore, the advertisement provided no age relaxation nor any weightage for experience. He termed this arbitrary and illegal. The state government said the advertisement was issued as per rules. However, it also acknowledged that following the Chief Minister’s announcement and a cabinet decision, a seven-member high-level committee has been formed to consider the regularization of contract and outsourced employees.
In its decision, the court said that the petitioner has been serving continuously for 15 years and the government itself is in the process of making rules. Therefore, for now, his post should be kept separate from the advertisement. The court clarified that rules should be made within six months, and thereafter a decision on the petitioner’s regularization should be taken. Until then, he will continue to work in his post and receive his salary as before.