State’s Delay in Sanctioning Posts Can’t Deny Regularisation to Contractual Workers: HP High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court ruled that contractual employees who completed six years of continuous service by March 31, 2013, are entitled to regularisation from that date as per the State’s regularisation policy.

The Court emphasized that the State’s delay in creating sanctioned posts cannot override employees’ rights under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

The petitioners, working under Special Area Development Authorities established under the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, were regularised only in 2015 despite being eligible earlier.

The Court stated that administrative delays cannot be used to deny lawful benefits to deserving employees.