Category: Service

Service Matters

Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 309 — Executive Orders as Recruitment Rules — The court affirms that in the absence of formal rules framed under Article 309 of the Constitution, executive orders issued by the government can serve as the governing recruitment rules — Specifically, Government Order (G.O.) dated 07th April, 2008 is recognized as the applicable executive order for the Medical Education Service.

2025 INSC 70 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH DR. SHARMAD Vs. STATE OF KERALA AND OTHERS ( Before : Dipankar Datta and Prashant Kumar Mishra, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

Service Matters

Service Law — Regularization of services for long-term, part-time employees — The court found that the appellants’ continuous service for over a decade, performing essential duties, should not be disregarded simply because their initial appointments were labeled as part-time or contractual — The court noted the indispensable nature of their work, the lack of any performance issues, and that their duties were similar to those of regular employees — The court emphasized that the nature of their work was perennial and fundamental, requiring their classification as regular posts — The court also found that the appellants’ abrupt termination was unjustified and violated principles of natural justice, and the argument against their regularization based on educational qualifications was untenable — The court noted discriminatory practices as other employees with similar or shorter service had been regularized — The court clarified that the Uma Devi judgment was not intended to penalize employees who have served long years in essential roles and that “irregular” appointments should be considered for regularization, especially when they are not “illegal” and the employees have served continuously against sanctioned functions.

2024 INSC 1034 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH JAGGO Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS ( Before : Vikram Nath and Prasanna B. Varale, JJ. ) Civil Appeal No….of…

Service Matters

Classification of Military casualties and the eligibility for Liberalised Family Pension — Battle Casualty —Illness Caused by Extreme Climatic Conditions as Battle Casualty — The Court establishes that a soldier’s death due to illness resulting from extreme climatic conditions while on duty near a sensitive border area (such as the Line of Control) can be categorized as a ‘Battle Casualty’ — This expands the interpretation of what constitutes a battle casualty under military regulations. – Liberalised Family Pension (LFP) — Application of Category E (f) — The judgment clarifies that deaths occurring in war-like situations, including those near international borders or lines of control due to environmental stresses, fall under clause (f) of category E of the relevant military order — This broadens the scope of eligibility for LFP under such circumstances.

2024 INSC 921 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. SAROJ DEVI — Respondent ( Before : Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George…

Service Matters

Service Law — Termination — Service Benefits — The Supreme Court held that the appellant is likely an Indian citizen based on his father’s migration certificate — The Court found that the termination of his service was arbitrary and violated natural justice principles, as he was not given an opportunity to defend himself — The Court directed that appellant be entitled to all unpaid service benefits and issued a general direction for timely police verification in government appointments. – Foreigners Act, 1946 — Section 9 — Citizenship Proof — Onus of Proof — The Court reaffirmed that under Section 9, the onus of proving citizenship lies on the person claiming it. -Citizenship Act, 1955 — Section 5(1)(a) — Indian Origin —The Court noted that persons of Indian origin who have been ordinary residents in India for seven years are entitled to citizenship under Section 5(1)(a).

2024 INSC 940 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH BASUDEV DUTTA — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : J.K. Maheshwari and R.…

Service Matters

Service Law — Retirement Age and the applicability of regulatory amendments in private, minority educational institutions affiliated with state universities — State-Specific Regulations Prevail — The court held that when a state government has not adopted amended regulations increasing the superannuation age, such amendments do not automatically apply to institutions within that state, even if they are governed by central regulatory bodies like AICTE and UGC.

2024 INSC 938 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH P.J. DHARMARAJ — Appellant Vs. CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and Prasanna B.Varale,…

Service Matters

The main issue is whether the eligibility criteria requiring AICTE approval for diplomas is valid, given the Supreme Court’s previous ruling that universities do not need AICTE approval for technical courses —The petitioners argued that the eligibility criteria were inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling and that they were unfairly excluded from the recruitment process —The respondents contended that the recruitment process was conducted according to the existing rules and that the petitioners were bound by the doctrine of acquiescence —The Supreme Court directed the Bihar Technical Service Commission to prepare a fresh select list of meritorious candidates, considering the previous High Court order and the AICTE’s stance —The Court found that changing the eligibility criteria after the selection process was completed was impermissible and that the petitioners had a legitimate right to be considered — The appeals were disposed of with directions to prepare a revised select list within three months, ensuring that eligible candidates are considered fairly.

2024 INSC 763 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SHASHI BHUSHAN PRASAD SINGH — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Bela M. Trivedi…

Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 — Sections 13(1) and 13(1)(d) — The respondent, an Income Tax officer, was denied promotion due to pending criminal charges and a sealed cover procedure was adopted — Whether the mere grant of prosecution sanction constitutes pending criminal charges, justifying the sealed cover procedure — Petitioner argue that the prosecution sanction implies pending criminal charges, warranting the sealed cover procedure — Respondent states that no criminal charges were pending at the time of the DPC meeting, making the sealed cover procedure unjustified —The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision, rejecting the sealed cover procedure as the charge sheet was filed after the DPC meeting —The prosecution for criminal charges is considered pending only after a charge sheet is issued — The appeal was dismissed, and the respondent was found fit for promotion.

2024 INSC 729 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. DOLY LOYI — Respondent ( Before : Sandeep Mehta and R. Mahadevan, JJ.…

Service Matters

NDMC contended that DSGMC’s closure of the school without approval made DSGMC responsible for the staff’s pay and benefits — The Supreme Court dismissed DSGMC’s appeals, upheld the High Court’s decision, and directed NDMC to pay the remaining dues to the staff — The closure was invalid as it lacked prior approval, making DSGMC responsible for the staff’s pay and benefits — Rule 46 of the Delhi Education Rules requires prior approval for school closure, which DSGMC did not obtain —

2024 INSC 635 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH NEW DELHI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. MANJU TOMAR AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Hima Kohli and…