B.Thrimalaiah and 61 Ors. v. Chief Minister Govt of Ap. Hyd and 5 Ors.

THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM

WRIT PETITION No. 7680 of 1997.

ORDER

The petitioners seek a mandamus by way of a direction to the State to regularize them in the regular NMR work charged establishments in N.S. Reddy Sagar Project, Dam Maintenance Circle of the Irrigation Department of the State Government and for postings to them and absorption in N.S.Reddy Sagar Project, Dam Maintenance Circle with back wages and other benefits.

This writ petition illustrates another episode in long saga of meandering litigative claim of retrenchment of daily wage workers seeking continued employment with the State.

N.S.Reddy Sagar Project was earlier the Srisailam Project incorporating hydro electric project as well. For the purposes of the project, during its execution, several daily wage workers in addition to regular establishment were engaged periodically and the service of such casual employees was dispensed with as the work need ceased. After completion of the major works of the project in question, service of several daily wage workers were dispensed with and other employees working as work charged workers were retrenched consequently.

During 1976, the State constituted the A.P. Construction Corporation Limited as a company incorporated under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and further execution of dam works in the State was entrusted to the State Corporation. Services of several daily wage workers and casual laborers working under the establishment of erstwhile project were dispensed with. The A.P. Construction Corporation