Sri. Ramesh Babu v. the State of Karnataka
Case brief
What is this about?
The High Court allowed a writ petition filed by 31 sweepers challenging the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal's order denying regularization. The petitioners, engaged as part-time sweepers for 15-25 years, performed full-time duties at police stations. The court relied on Supreme Court judgments in Jaggo (2024) and Sukhendu Bhattacharjee (2026) holding that Umadevi cannot be a blanket barrier to regularization for long-serving temporary employees performing essential functions. A co-ordinate bench had earlier regularized similarly situated sweepers, and the Supreme Court dismissed the SLP against that order. The court set aside the Tribunal's order and directed regularization with consequential benefits within three months.
What did the court decide?
Tribunal order set aside; respondents directed to regularize petitioners' services as sweepers and grant all consequential benefits within three months.