Ajit Kumar Panda v. State of Odisha
Case brief
What is this about?
The Court held that contractual appointments against vacant posts under the RA Rules are subject to the deeming fiction of regularization rules, allowing benefits to relate back to the initial appointment date. While executive instructions cannot supersede statutory rules to restrict relaxation powers, the Court was willing to exercise such powers to relax conditions and modify an impugned Office Order to grant regular status and consequential financial benefits retrospectively, overriding a prior government clarification that sought prospective application.
What did the court decide?
Writ of mandamus directed opposite parties to modify Office Order dated 15.01.2022 to regularize appointment with effect from initial date and extend all service and financial benefits within three months, invoking powers to relax rules and grant consequential relief.