Orissa High Court: Contractual Appointments Outside Recruitment Rules have No Legal Sanctity

The Orissa High Court dismissed a writ appeal challenging a contractual appointment to the post of Assistant Professor at MKCG Medical College, holding that appointments made outside the regular recruitment framework lack legal sanctity.

The Court observed that existing recruitment rules do not permit contractual engagement and criticised the State for bypassing lawful procedures through walk-in interviews.

It held that such processes do not confer any enforceable right to appointment and undermine public confidence in recruitment.

Deprecating the growing practice of irregular contractual hiring in public employment, the Court directed that copies of the judgment be forwarded to the Chief Secretary and the Odisha Public Service Commission for necessary action.