Supreme Court Reinstates Class IV Staff Terminated Beyond Advertised Vacancies

The Supreme Court set aside the termination of four Class IV employees of the Ambedkar Nagar District Judgeship, Uttar Pradesh, who were dismissed on the grounds of being appointed beyond advertised vacancies.

A Bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran observed that the recruitment notice dated October 18, 2000, expressly permitted variation in the number of posts and that additional vacancies had subsequently arisen.

The Court held the termination unjustified, directing reinstatement of employees below superannuation and payment of minimum pension to those above sixty. It clarified that the 17-year period of unemployment would not count toward service benefits.