Shri. Jophy Joseph v. the Lieutenant Governor and Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Stigmatic non-renewal of contract of Junior Engineer (contract) with Zilla Parishad, North and Middle Andaman; ten years' repeated renewals show trappings of regular employment despite consolidated monthly pay (K. Ragupathi / K. Raghupati, (2022) 6 SCC 346, applied); non-renewal order dated 2nd August, 2022 set aside; petitioner deemed in service since termination; 50% back remuneration payable within two months; employer free to institute disciplinary proceedings in accordance with law; Anti Corruption Unit enquiry into rural road irregularities; FIR permitted under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988; coordinate bench precedent Christopher Lazarus, WPA/397/2022 (relied upon); High Court at Calcutta, Circuit Bench at Port Blair; Rajasekhar Mantha, J.; writ petition allowed and disposed of; no order as to costs.
What did the court decide?
Impugned order of non-renewal of contract dated 2nd August, 2022 set aside; petitioner deemed to be in service since then; petitioner entitled to 50% of normal monthly remuneration from the date of termination till date, payable within two months; respondents entitled to take out appropriate proceedings in accordance with law and within the rules; no order as to costs.