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VOL. 1, ISSUE 2 (2025)
Case study: Jaggo v. Union of India: Its impact on the regularisation of service jurisprudence of contractual employees
Authors
Dr. Rakesh Kumar
Abstract
This case study critically examines Jaggo v.
Union of India as a significant milestone in the evolving service jurisprudence
relating to the regularisation of contractual employees in India. The judgment
reflects the Supreme Court of India’s nuanced shift from a rigid, formalistic
approach towards a more equity-oriented and constitutional interpretation of
long-term contractual employment. The Court, while reiterating that
regularisation cannot be claimed as a matter of right, emphasized that
prolonged, uninterrupted service rendered by contractual employees especially
against sanctioned posts and under continuous administrative control creates a
legitimate expectation deserving judicial protection. The decision in Jaggo
underscores the constitutional mandate of Articles 14 and 16, holding that the
State cannot perpetuate arbitrariness by engaging employees on a contractual
basis for years together while extracting work equivalent to that of regular
employees. The Court distinguished irregular appointments from illegal
appointments and clarified that where the initial engagement is not tainted by
fraud or backdoor entry, denial of regularisation after long years of service
may amount to exploitation and violation of equality principles. This case
study analyses the reasoning adopted in Jaggo v. Union of India, situates it
within the broader post-Uma Devi jurisprudence, and evaluates its impact on
subsequent claims for regularisation by contractual employees, particularly in
public institutions and universities. The study argues that Jaggo contributes
to a developing judicial doctrine that balances administrative discretion with
social justice, fairness, and dignity of labour. It concludes that the judgment
strengthens the protective framework for long-serving contractual employees and
signals a gradual re-humanisation of service law in India.
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Pages:228-231
How to cite this article:
Dr. Rakesh Kumar "Case study: Jaggo v. Union of India: Its impact on the regularisation of service jurisprudence of contractual employees". International Journal of Applied Review
, Vol 1, Issue 2, 2025, Pages 228-231
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