Supreme Court Condemns 'Ad-Hocism' in Government Employment

The Supreme Court on Tuesday strongly criticized the prevalent 'ad-hocism' in government employment, asserting that the enduring reliance on temporary labels for regular labor erodes public trust in administration.

In its verdict regularizing the services of several employees in the UP Higher Education Services Commission, the bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, emphasized that as a constitutional employer, the state cannot resort to balancing budgets at the expense of those fulfilling fundamental, ongoing public functions.

The court demonstrated concern about the opacity that 'ad-hocism' nurtures within public administration, arguing that any financial austerity should not compromise fairness or allow deviation from lawful employment practices. It highlighted the state's duty to establish sound procedures that reflect the recurring nature of work and uphold constitutional principles.