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STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
v.
SURESH KUMAR VERMA AND ANR.
JANUARY 24, 1996
[K. RAMASWAMY, S. SAGHIR AHMAD AND
G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.]
Se1vice Law :
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Appointment-Project coming to an end-Termination of ser-
vices-Cou1ts not to give directions to re-engage thenz in any other work or to
appoint them against existing vacancie:c-State bound to follow recnlitment
roles and niake appointnzents in accordance therewith-Direction of Cou1ts
to appoint-Judicial process would become other mode of recmitment de hors
the ntle:c-State di1~cted to consider relaxation of age limit to the extent of the
D period of se1vice on daily wages and to consider such persons if they are
otherwise eligible.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 3492 of
1996.
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From the Judgment and Order dated 10.9.93 of the Himachal
Pradesh High Court in C.W.P. No. 722 of 1993.
Sanjay Kumar Pathak and Naresh K. Sharma for the Appellant.
Mahabir Singh for the Respondents.
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The following Order of the Court was delivered :
Delay condoned.
We have heard the counsel on both sides. This appeal by special
G leave arises from the orders passed by the High Court of Himachal
Pradesh. In this case in CWP No. 722/93 dated 10.9.1993, the Division
Bench of the High Court has disposed of the matters on the ground that
the respondents were re-engaged as Assistant Development Officers on
daily wages pursuant to the direction by it. It is settled law that having made
rules of recruitment to various services under the State or to a class of posts
H under the State, the State is bound to follow the same and to have the
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STATEv.S.K. VERMA
973
selection of the candidates made as per recruitment rules and appoint-
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ments shall be made accordingly. From the date of discharging the duties
attached to the post the incumbent becomes a member of the services.
Appointment on daily wage basis is not an appointment to a post according
to the Rules.
It is seen that the project in which the respondents were engaged had B
come to an end and that, therefore, they, have necessarily been terminated
for want of work. The Court cannot give any directions to re-engage them
in any other work or appoint them against existing vacancies. Otherwise,
the judicial process would become other mode of recruitment de hors the
rules.
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Mr. Mahabir Singh, learned counsel for the respondents contended
that there was an admission in the counter affidavit filed in the High Court
that there were vacancies and that, therefore, the respondents are entitled
to be continued in service. We do not agree with the contention. The
vacancies require to be filled up in accordance with the rules and all the D
candidates who would otherwise eligible are entitled to apply for when
recruitment is made and seek consideration of their claims on merit
according to the Rules for direct recruitment along with all the eligible
candidates. The appointment on daily wages cannot be a conduit pipe for
regular appointments which would be a back-door entry, detrimental to _the
efficiency of service and would breed seeds of nepotism and corruption. It E
is equally settled law that even for Class IV employees recruitment accord-
ing to rules is a pre-condition. Only work-charged employees who perform
the duties of transitory nature are appointed not to a post but are required
to perform the work of transitory and urgent nature so long as the work
exists. One temporary employee cannot be replaced by another temporary
employee.
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Under these circumstances, the view of the High Court is not correct.
It is accordingly set aside. It is mentioned that the respondents have
become averaged by now. If they apply for any regular appointment by
which time if they become barred by age, the State is directed to consider
necessary relaxation of their age to the extent of their period of service on G
daily wages and then to consider their cases according to rules, if they are
otherwise eligible.
The appeal is accordingly allowed. No. costs.
G.N.
Appeal allowed.
Lex