In Brief
Retrenched daily wage workers of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam filed contempt petitions challenging non-compliance with the Supreme Court order of 7 September 2015. The petitioners claimed they should be reinstated and regularised against vacant posts. The Supreme Court held that its 2015 order, passed on the basis of a circular granting preference for re-engagement to retrenched workers as per seniority when vacancies arise, contained no direction for reinstatement or regular appointment. Contempt requires willful disobedience to specific court orders, not impressions. Most petitioners were not party to the original proceedings. Reinstatement cannot exceed what was originally granted. The Court dismissed the contempt petitions, holding that no violation of its orders had occurred.
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