#Service Law

The Supreme Court admitted an appeal by a UP Police constable candidate rejected by the departmental medical board for alleged squint, despite two independent expert opinions from GSVM Medical College and UHM District Hospital certifying normal vision. The ruling will clarify whether expert medical evidence from reputable institutions can override a departmental board's adverse finding in recruitment.

CAT Jammu holds regularised ReT teachers cannot face discriminatory transfer restrictions based on initial recruitment mode; impugned repatriation orders set aside.

The Court held that legislative validation cannot cure a recruitment process vitiated by systemic corruption and nepotism once a constitutional court has annulled it, as this would violate separation of powers. The 2022 Karnataka Act attempting to revive the 2011 Gazetted Probationers recruitment was struck down, with directions for fresh recruitment granting age relaxation to untainted candidates.

The tribunal ruled that once an Internal Complaints Committee substantiates sexual harassment allegations, the employer's statutory obligation under the POSH Act to ensure a safe workplace takes precedence over transfer policies and the employee's tenure expectations. This upholds preventive transfers as a legitimate tool to protect complainants and maintain institutional integrity in service law.

The CAT Principal Bench held that candidates seeking reservation under the PwD quota must strictly meet the exact locomotor disability specifications (One Arm/One Leg) notified in the recruitment advertisement; a general medical board certification for a different disability category (both legs affected) does not qualify the candidate for the reserved post.

The Delhi High Court ruled that a bank may not seize an employee’s terminal benefits to settle loan dues unless a specific statute or contract expressly permits it, quashing SBI’s review petition. The decision safeguards retirement benefits of bank employees and clarifies limits on contractual lien in employment contracts.

The Karnataka HC held that superannuation does not bar regularization where an employee served 34 years in a sanctioned post, got recommendations, and saw peers regularized, safeguarding workers’ legitimate expectation and equality rights under Article 14.

The Madras HC quashed a suspension and demotion order under the SH Act, 2013, holding the inquiry violated natural justice by denying accused a chance to defend himself, and stressed that SH Act inquiries must give accused a hearing to protect rights.

The Rajasthan High Court held that contractual workers satisfying the Maternity Benefit Act’s eligibility criteria cannot be denied statutory maternity leave, striking down a refusal based solely on service conditions. This ruling secures 180 days’ paid leave with interest for contract employees in state appointments.

The SC ruled its 2026 disability-pension judgment for ex-servicemen is not a blanket precedent; each claim must be decided on its own merits. This blocks mechanical extension to other pensionary claims, safeguarding settled cases and limiting costs.

The Supreme Court overturned the Madras High Court's earlier ruling, holding that compassionate appointments under Tamil Nadu Service Rules cannot claim seniority over direct recruits appointed after hiring ban, affecting many in promotion and pay scales.

Patna HC quashed a 75% pension cut, ruling departmental proceeding on 2006-09 allegations initiated in 2015 was time-barred under Rule 43(b) of Bihar Pension Rules and violated natural justice by ignoring defence and relying on ex-parte report.

HC quashed selection of candidate for EWS reserved Assistant Professor post, ruling Section 3(3) Uttarakhand EWS Act, 2019 bars bypassing eligible EWS applicant when no suitability cut off exists. It safeguards EWS reservation rights in public jobs.

By rejecting the NIOS certificate as equivalent to the 10th standard under 10+2 requirement, the SC upheld Goa's 2006 Recruitment Rules for the Vocational Instructor (Plumber) post and restored the original selection based on strict eligibility.

The Gauhati High Court ruled that junior engineers with two-year diplomas are similarly situated to earlier beneficiaries and must receive notional seniority from the 2010 notification, directing the government to grant the benefit within two months. This clarifies promotion eligibility for diploma-holding engineers across Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.