Long-Serving Court Employees Can’t be Removed Over Procedural Irregularities: Madhya Pradesh HC

The Madhya Pradesh High Court set aside the termination of several Class-III employees working in District Courts, holding that their removal after more than 22 years of service was legally unsustainable.

The Division Bench held that the appointments made in 1994-95 were not illegal or void from the beginning, but only procedurally irregular, and such irregularities stood cured due to long and continuous service.

The Court noted that no statutory recruitment rules existed at the time, and the Medical Examination Rules were adopted only in 1996.

The Court ruled that long-standing appointments cannot be disturbed in the absence of fraud, directed reinstatement, but denied back wages.

[Mohd. Shamim & Ors v. the State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.]