HC warns Telangana govt against evasive stance on service regularisation

The Telangana High Court criticised the state government for failing to implement judicial orders related to employee welfare, particularly in the cases of two retired staff whose temporary service was to be counted for pension and regularisation. Despite the Supreme Court upholding the 2012 APAT ruling, the government has not acted, prompting the court to demand a response.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin of the Telangana High Court on Thursday observed that the State government should not adopt an evasive attitude in matters concerning employee service and welfare.

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The Bench remarked that the government, as an employer, is expected to act responsibly and fairly, and that it was a matter of concern that long-pending judicial directions had not yet been implemented.

The observations came while hearing petitions filed by two retired employees M Vijaya Lakshmi and T Hemavathi who alleged that the orders passed by the then Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal (APAT) in 2012—directing the government to count temporary service for the purpose of regularisation, pension, and other benefits, had not been implemented in their cases.

The Tribunal’s ruling had subsequently been upheld by both the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Expressing displeasure over the continued non-implementation of the verdict despite the apex court’s final judgment, the Bench noted that such inaction was giving rise to multiple litigations.

“It is worrisome that the government has failed to comply with the directions even after the issue has attained finality before the Supreme Court,” the Bench observed. Clarifying that the incident occurred in the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh, the court stated that it would not be appropriate to hold the present Andhra Pradesh government accountable for the lapse.

However, since the petitioners had rendered service in the Telangana region, the 2012 Tribunal orders must be implemented in their cases, the Bench said. The court directed the government to file a counter in the matter and adjourned the hearing to November 21.