In Brief
U.P. Jal Nigam had retrenched workmen engaged as Runners, Beldars and Lab Assistants in 1991. After prolonged litigation, the Supreme Court on 07.09.2015 disposed of the Special Leave Petitions based on the Jal Nigam's undertaking (via office order dated 07.04.2015) to give preference to retrenched workers for future daily wage/muster roll vacancies in order of seniority. The retrenched workers then filed contempt petitions claiming the Supreme Court's order required their immediate reinstatement. The Court held that the order contained no direction for reinstatement, merely preference for future vacancies when they arose. Since no specific relief was granted, contempt could not be made out. Further, 61 of 62 petitioners were not parties to the original litigation and could not claim rights from an order in which they did not participate. The contempt petitions were dismissed.
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