Chandigarh, Nov. 12 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court ordered the regularisation of services of two contractual assistant professors serving for more than 12 years in the constituent colleges of Panjab University (PU), holding that the state and its institutions cannot "exploit citizens nor take advantage of mass unemployment."

The bench, led by justice Jagmohan Bansal, also advised authorities to consider similar claims from other contractual teachers in light of this judgment, particularly those who have completed over 10 years of service, observing that it would help avoid litigation.

The petitioners, Nishi and another, had been appointed in 2012 after undergoing a proper selection process against sanctioned posts. The court obser...