Frame policy for regularizing contractual employees: Telangana HC to state

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has directed the state government to frame a comprehensive policy for the regularization of contractual employees.

A division bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Ghouse Meera Mohiuddin issued the directive on Thursday.

The court emphasized that a formal framework is essential to address the grievances of long-term temporary staff and to reduce the `mounting volume of litigation’ currently clogging the judicial system.

JNTU Case

The court’s intervention was sparked by an appeal (Writ Appeal No. 270/2026) filed by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU). The university is contesting a previous ruling that ordered the regularization of Mr. A. Narasimha, a Record Assistant who has served the institution since 1992.

The original ruling mandated:

Full Regularization: Effective after his first five years of service.

Backdated Benefits: Granting seniority, salary arrears, and promotional entitlements spanning over two decades.

JNTU argued against the retrospective nature of these benefits, prompting the Bench to look at the broader systemic issue rather than just the individual case.

Judicial Observations & Precedents

Chief Justice Singh remarked that the High Court is currently burdened with numerous petitions from temporary workers seeking judicial intervention for permanent status. He pointed to the landmark 2006 Supreme Court judgment in State of Karnataka v. Umadevi as the gold standard for such policies.

"The state government must formulate a clear policy... strictly adhering to the legal principles established by the Supreme Court," the Bench observed.

The Chief Justice also cited the State of Jharkhand as a successful example, noting that it had already implemented a structured policy based on the Umadevi principles to manage its contractual workforce systematically.

Next Steps for the State

The Court has instructed Advocate General A. Sudershan Reddy to communicate these directions to the state administration. The government is expected to:

Review existing service rules for temporary and contract staff.

Deliberate on a structured framework that aligns with constitutional mandates.

Submit a formal response to the Court.

The matter has been adjourned, with the next hearing scheduled for April 15, 2026.