Karnataka High Court Rules Against Regularizing Employees Hired Through Outsourcing Contracts

13 Jun, 2024

In the case of Uemsha T N and Others vs. State of Karnataka, a single judge bench of the Karnataka High Court, led by Justice N S Sanjay Gowda, ruled that employees hired via outsourcing contracts cannot be granted permanent status, as these contracts were not intended to create permanent employment positions. 

The case involved 27 workers initially employed as binders and later as printers at the Government Printing Press in Tumkur since 2000. After the Tumkur press closed in 2016, these workers were reassigned to the Peenya printing press on an outsourced basis through various contractors. Originally, 96 workers were employed, with 50 absorbed and the remaining continuing on a piece-rate basis. The continuous employment through different contractors obscured the direct employment relationship with the government. On February 7, 2023, the Government (Respondent) announced the closure of the Peenya printing press, transferring all assets to the Mysore Road press and terminating the services of 40 outsourced employees. These workers provided service from 2000 to 2010, and then from 2016-17 to 2022-23. 

The employees contested the closure and termination in W.P.No.3718/2023. The Karnataka High Court resolved this petition on June 13, 2023, instructing the State to consider regularizing the employees based on their extended service. However, despite the Court's directive, the respondents denied the employees' request for regularization. In response, the employees filed the current writ petition.

Read more at LiveLaw 

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