State Must be Model Employer: Supreme Court Slams Union for Not Regularising ISRO Workers

The Supreme Court has criticised the Union Government for failing to regularise daily-wage labourers at an ISRO subsidiary, despite final judicial orders issued years ago.

The Court observed that the "Gang Labourers Scheme, 2012" diluted previous directions by offering only temporary engagement instead of permanent status.

Emphasising that the State must act as a model employer under Article 14, the Court noted that India's space achievements rely on the indispensable contributions of Group C and D workers. Holding that authorities cannot bypass final judgments by framing inconsistent schemes.

The Court directed the immediate regularisation of the appellants with retrospective effect from September 2010.

[R. Iyyappan v. UOI]