State
Of U.P. & ANR Vs. Ram Ahdar [2008] INSC 627 (10 April 2008)
H.K. SEMA & MARKANDEY KATJU O R D E R CIVIL APPEAL NO.5691 OF 2002 This appeal filed by the State is
directed against the judgment and order dated 14.08.2001 passed by the Division
Bench of the Allahabad High Court.
Heard the parties.
The respondent herein was appointed on ad hoc basis on the post of
Stenographer for a period of three months. The time was extended twice and
ultimately, the respondent also appeared in the test but failed. The respondent
preferred writ petition before the learned Single Judge. The same was disposed
by the learned Single Judge allowing the respondent to continue till the
regularly selected Stenographer joins the post. The same was confirmed by the
Division Bench of the High Court.
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While issuing notice on 15.10.2001 this Court stayed both the orders of the
Division Bench and the learned Single Judge. In view of the interim order, the
respondent is no more in service today. Even otherwise an ad hoc appointee appointed
for a period of three months as Stenographer, whose term is further extended,
should not be allowed to continue in the public interest when he failed in the
test.
It may be mentioned that there is no principle of law that a person
appointed in a temporary capacity has a right to continue till a regular
selection Rather, the legal position is just the reverse, that is, that a
temporary employee has no right to the post vide State of U.P. v. Kaushal
Kishore, (1991) 1 SCC 691. Hence, he has no right to continue even for a day as
of right, far from having a right to continue till a regular appointment.
On this sole ground we set aside both the orders of the learned Single Judge
and the Division Bench of the High Court. This appeal is allowed. No costs.
Before parting with this case we would like to mention that very often
selection and appointments are made on posts requiring special skills like that
of a stenographer. On such posts the only criterion should be merit. However,
very often such appointments are not made on merit but on some recommendations,
and such appointees are very often incompetent.
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If an incompetent stenographer is appointed for the Court the result will be
that the correct order passed by the Judge will not be recorded, and this will
create many problems. Much of the time of the Judge will be spent on making
corrections.
Hence great care must be taken by the selection committee for selecting
persons to be appointed on posts requiring special skills like that of a
stenographer purely on merit disregarding any recommendation made by anyone,
howsoever high.
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