JUDGEMENT
RAJIV NARAIN RAINA, J. -
(1.) The petitioners have been engaged through an independent contractor by the outsourcing mode adopted by the PWD
(B&R) department. They were engaged through a middleman on 15th July,
2016. Vide Memo dated 22nd July, 2016 (Annex.P-2), all the Superintending Engineers including the Land Acquisition Officers, Haryana, Public Works
Department (B&R), Haryana, have been informed while referring to Office
Memo dated 4th February, 2016 that the Finance Department, Haryana has
not made provision of Budget grant under object Head 69-Contractual
Services under Head "N-51-08-2059-80-001-R-V Direction and Administration
for the Current financial year 2016-2017. In view of this, a request has
been made to the various departments under the control of the
Administrative Department not to appoint/engage any candidate on contract
basis as per Out Sourcing Policy (OSP) issued by the Government from time
to time till further orders due to non-availability of budget grant
during the current financial year 2016-2017. It may be noted that the
petitioners' appointments in July, 2016 were not by name. In the present
petition, they claim that they should not be replaced by similar
arrangement and they be paid their salary for the intervening period and
their services be not terminated. In this petition, it is not possible to
hold that the petitioners have any right to the cadre post of Clerks or
Peon since they have been engaged through a Contractor and their claim
can only be determined and satisfied by the Contractor, the ostensible
employer through a proceeding brought by aggrieved persons under the
Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 and for claim to
unpaid wages before the authorities in the districts concerned appointed
under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936. Neither the petitioners have any
right to continue on the posts nor has any adverse order been passed
against them for whatever status they may enjoy in the organization.
Therefore, the writ petition is premature and no declaration can be
issued as prayed on the material presented before this Court. Nor is any
interference called for at this stage against the State and the writ
petition is disposed of as not warranting interference in extraordinary
writ jurisdiction of this Court where this Court is to limit itself to
the issue, whether there exists a direct employment relationship on
contract with the department determining the jural relationship between
the parties governed by rights and duties as between the petitioning
workers and the State which appears prima facie not to be direct, nor the
State under statutory or legal obligation towards the petitioners. If the
veil has to be lifted it can be only upon evidence which is not within
the province of the High Court in its extraordinary original jurisdiction
under Article 226 of the COI. The forum appropriate would be the
industrial adjudicator under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 applying
law in the 1970 Act to determine by trial if the contract is a camouflage
or unfair labour practise to which end no opinion is expressed in the
present proceeding so as not to prejudice the parties. If Budget is not
passed or approved the Court can't create financial liability by a
mandamus to the State. Besides, the admitted duration of employment is
far too short starting 15th July, 2016 to be actionable in this Court.
(2.) In view of the above discussion, I find no merit in this petition worthy of interference which is accordingly dismissed with liberty to the
petitioners to approach the proper forum for relief, if advised.
Petition dismissed.;
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