In Brief
Railway parcel and goods porters working on contract labour sought permanent Grade D posts, relying on a 2003 Supreme Court judgment. The Court held that Labour Commissioners must complete inquiries verifying each worker's eligibility. Railways must then act on these reports within two weeks. Educational qualification objections were waived as a one-time measure given long service. The Court directed Railways to appoint eligible workers by 15 December 2018, allowing only objections grounded in the original judgment (age, medical fitness, work availability). Objections already considered during inquiry cannot be re-raised, streamlining compliance.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.