Supreme Court orders Tripura government to regularise eight DRW staff within three months and pay 30% pending dues. Landmark ruling may impact nearly 40,000 non-regular workers, strengthening legal rights of contractual employees in the state.
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Government of Tripura to regularise eight Daily Rated Worker (DRW) staff engaged in the state’s education department within three months. The court has also ordered the government to release 30 percent of their pending dues, marking the end of a prolonged legal struggle.
The ruling was delivered on February 28, bringing relief to the eight workers who had been fighting for their employment rights for several years. Senior advocate Purushottam Roy Barman confirmed the development while addressing reporters on Friday. According to him, the judgment not only benefits the petitioners but could also influence the fate of thousands of similarly placed workers across the state.
Long Legal Battle
The dispute dates back to 2021 when the eight DRW employees working in schools located in Kanchanpur and Ganganagar approached the Tripura High Court seeking regularisation of their services. The workers argued that they had been performing regular departmental duties for years but remained on daily wage status without job security or benefits.
However, the High Court’s single bench rejected their petition. The court observed that the state government had already abolished the scheme under which non-regular workers could previously be regularised. The decision was later upheld by a division bench of the High Court in 2022, leaving the workers without immediate relief.
Unwilling to give up, the petitioners moved the apex court, challenging the High Court’s ruling. After examining the case, the Supreme Court delivered a verdict in favour of the workers.
Apex Court’s Observation
According to advocate Roy Barman, the Supreme Court made a critical observation while delivering its verdict. The court stated that the abolition of a government scheme could not be used as a justification to deny regularisation to workers who have been performing essential duties for a long period.
The apex court further noted that the responsibilities carried out by the non-regular staff were not temporary or seasonal in nature. Instead, they were part of the routine and essential tasks of the department. On this basis, the court concluded that the employees deserved to be regularised and should also be entitled to pension benefits.
Wider Impact on Non-Regular Employees
Legal experts believe the judgment could have far-reaching implications. Roy Barman said the ruling has potentially opened legal pathways for nearly 40,000 non-regular employees across Tripura to seek similar relief.
Many government departments in the state employ workers under various categories such as Daily Rated Workers, contingent staff, and contractual employees. These workers often perform duties similar to permanent staff but lack job security, pension benefits, and other employment protections.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is therefore expected to strengthen the legal position of such workers if they pursue similar cases.
Government’s Next Steps
With the three-month deadline set by the apex court, the state government will now have to initiate administrative procedures to regularise the eight employees and release a portion of their pending payments.
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Labour rights advocates say the judgment may also prompt policy discussions within the state administration about addressing the long-standing issue of non-regular government employees.
For the eight workers who began the legal fight years ago, the verdict represents both recognition of their service and a long-awaited step toward employment stability.
