Srinagar, Nov 27: The High Court has dismissed the plea of contractual employees working in Airport Authority of India seeking regularization of their services on the parity of other contractual employees.
The petitioners were engaged for providing services to Airport Authority of India from different dates and were seeking regularization of their services in tune with the policy/scheme formulated to regularize the contract employees who have rendered a particular period of service.
The aggrieved contractuals submit that pursuant to the policy, services of 12 contract employees were regularized in terms of order dated 02.12.2013 in Group ‘D’ grade in relaxation of upper age limit and also in relaxation of minimum educational qualification. They are seeking regularization of their services in the same manner as had been done in favour of beneficiaries of orders dated 02.12.2013.
The AAI while opposing the plea submitted that 12 contract workers, who were regularized, had worked at Srinagar International Airport during the peak militancy period i.e. from the year 1990 to 1999 & further informed the court that these 12 workers were regularized on the basis of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture made vide its 158th report as a onetime measure which was duly approved by Manpower Advisory Board of Airports Authority of India Board.
It has been submitted that after the year 1999, the situation in the Valley became normal and there was no militancy in the Valley, as such, the contract workers could easily perform their job as there were no adverse conditions in the Valley, hence the petitioners are not entitled to claim similar benefit as was extended to other 12 workers.
The court has also been apprised with regard to the directions of the Supreme Court, whereby the Supreme Court has clearly directed that the benefit of regularization is being granted only to shortlisted workers and that the same cannot be a precedent for any person beyond the shortlisted workers.
Justice Sanjay Dhar while dismissing the plea said the respondent-AAI is justified in not short listing these petitioners while undertaking the exercise of regularization of services of contract workers in accordance with the policy guidelines laid down by the Parliamentary Committee.
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