Mumbai, Feb. 4 -- The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the practice of hiring workers on daily wage contracts to evade providing permanent benefits, reaffirming that long-serving temporary workers in sanctioned positions cannot be denied regular employment solely due to their initial temporary appointments.
A bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B Varale, was hearing an appeal by gardeners (Malis) employed by the Horticulture Department of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam from 1998 to 1999.
The workers alleged they were denied appointment letters, minimum wages, statutory benefits, and job security despite years of continuous service. In 2005, their services were abruptly terminated without notice or compensation.
The Court set...