The Chandigarh Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has paved the way for the regularization of long-serving contract teachers, offering them significant relief. The Tribunal has directed the Chandigarh Administration to regularize the services of eligible teachers who have completed more than 10 years of service. This verdict brings relief to a large number of TGTs, PGTs, and other teachers who had been waging a legal battle. Teachers who had been serving continuously for periods ranging from 10 to 16 years were previously being denied regularization. In response to the teachers’ petition, the Central Government, the Chandigarh Administration, and the Education Department were named as respondents.
The petitioner-teachers argued before the CAT that they had been appointed through a proper procedure and were serving against sanctioned posts. Despite this, the Administration had failed to formulate a concrete policy for their regularization. In response, the CAT observed that retaining employees on a contractual basis for extended periods runs contrary to the principles of labor justice. The petitioners, the Tribunal noted, do not constitute “backdoor entries” but were, in fact, appointed through a legitimate selection process. The Administration’s failure to formulate a regularization policy amounts to an injustice against these employees.
**Reference to Supreme Court Judgments**
In its verdict, the CAT cited several pivotal judgments of the Supreme Court, including the *Uma Devi* case (2006) and other recent rulings. The CAT clarified that the legitimate rights of employees cannot be denied by misinterpreting these judicial pronouncements. The Tribunal directed that teachers who have completed 10 years or more of service be regularized within six weeks. Should the regularization orders not be issued within the stipulated timeframe, the teachers shall be deemed regularized automatically. While no arrears for past service will be granted, the period of continuous service shall be taken into account for the purpose of calculating pension and other service benefits. This order shall also be applicable to other teachers facing similar circumstances.
