CWP/19370/2026 on 2 November 2026

1. CWP No. 19532/2026

Abhishek Bhatia & Anr.

…Petitioners

Versus

State of H.P. & Anr.

.…Respondents.

2. CWP No. 19457/2026

Pawan Kumar

…Petitioner

Versus

State of H.P. & Ors.

.…Respondents

3. CWP No. 19369/2026

Virender Kumar

…Petitioner

Versus

State of H.P. & Anr.

.…Respondents

4. CWP No. 19370/2026

Arunesh Kumar

…Petitioner

Versus

State of H.P. & Ors.

.…Respondents …………………………………………………………………………….

Coram

Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1

Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? yes

For the petitioners: Mr. Onkar Jairath, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Piyush Mehta, and M/s Vinay Mehta, Pawnish K. Sukla, Advocates, for the petitioners in the respective petitions.

For the respondents: M/s. Seema Sharma, Deputy Advocate General and Mr. Rajesh Kosh, Advocate, for the respondents in the respective petitions.

Jyotsna Rewal Dua, J

Petitioners seek a direction to the respondents to count their contract services for the purpose of annual increments, seniority, promotion and all other consequential benefits. They seek applicability of the decision rendered in Taj Mohammad and others Versus The State of Himachal Pradesh and others2.

2. It is an admitted position that the “Himachal Pradesh Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Government Employees Act, 2024” has been quashed and set aside in Devinder Kumar & Ors. Vs. State of Himachal Pradesh & Anr3. It is also a matter of record that State of Himachal Pradesh & Anr. Vs. Devinder Kumar & Ors.4 instituted by the State of Himachal Pradesh against the aforementioned judgment, has been dismissed by the Hon’ble Apex Court on 29.07.2026. While dismissing the appeal, the Hon’ble Apex 2 CWP No.2004 of 2017 decided alongwith connected matter on 03.08.2023. 3 CWP No. 3361 of 2025 decided alonwith connected matters on 25.04.2026 4 Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 24885/2026 decided on 29.07.2026

Court granted four months’ time to the State Government to do the needful in terms of the judgment.

In view of above, but without examining the merits of the matter, these present petitions are disposed of with direction to the respondents to consider the cases of the petitioners for the grant of relief prayed for by them, in accordance with the time-line indicated by the Hon’ble Apex Court. The petitioners are at liberty to seek appropriate remedy for the redressal of their surviving grievances, if any, at an appropriate stage, in case, necessity so arises, in future. Pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of.

Jyotsna Rewal Dua

Judge 2nd November, 2026(rohit)