#Uma Devi Doctrine

Patna High Court rules that legal heirs of employees whose appointments were declared illegal ab initio cannot claim compassionate appointment, even if service benefits were paid during litigation. The judgment reinforces that the Uma Devi doctrine precludes relief where the original appointment violated constitutional norms, setting a strict precedent for employment claims based on irregular appointments.

CAT Cuttack rules that long-term casual workers in government institutions are entitled to regularization even if procedural requirements under the DoPT OM are not met, overriding the strict application of the Uma Devi doctrine. The ruling emphasizes substantive justice over technicalities, impacting thousands of similarly placed workers.

CAT Ranchi holds that long-serving casual labourers with continuous service over decades cannot be denied regularization under CBIC 2020 Scheme merely due to lack of formal education, if their appointments were not illegal.

Gauhati High Court holds that termination of Grade-IV employees after 14 years of service for procedural lapses, without fraud, violates natural justice and Article 14. Reinstatement ordered.