Amendment to Haryana Contractual Employees Act Ensures Fairer Calculation of Service Days

Haryana Cabinet Addresses Contractual Employee Concerns with Service Days Amendment

The Haryana Cabinet has approved amendments to the Common Eligibility Test (CET) policy, removing the 5% bonus marks for candidates based on socioeconomic criteria for Group C and D government jobs, following a May 31 directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The changes, approved in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, align with the court's ruling and will be implemented under the revised Policy for Recruitment to Group C and D Posts through Common Eligibility Test, (Amendment) Rule, 2024.

In May, the Punjab and Haryana High Court struck down the state's policy of awarding 5% bonus marks based on socioeconomic status for CET Group C and D posts, and the Supreme Court upheld this decision in June. The amended policy applies to direct recruitment for Group C posts, including police, prisons, and home guards, but excludes teaching, ex-Agniveer, and Group D posts with qualifications below matriculation. The amendment also increases the maximum number of eligible candidates for the skill and written examination to ten times the number of advertised posts, up from four times.

On May 5, 2022, the state government introduced the Common Eligibility Test (CET) for Group C and D posts. Additionally, the cabinet approved an ordinance to amend the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024, replacing "in a calendar year" with "during one year of contractual service." This change addresses contractual employees' request to calculate the 240-day service requirement based on actual days worked within a one-year contractual period, rather than a calendar year. The current system presented challenges for employees who joined between May and December, as the service days for their first year of employment were not being fully accounted for. It was explained that employees who joined after May and before December would not meet the 240-day service requirement for their first calendar year of service, which in turn affected their job security.

Additionally, employees expressed concerns about the year 2024, as the total number of service days until the cut-off date of August 15, 2024, would be only 227, falling short of the required 240 days. In response to these requests, the Haryana Cabinet approved an amendment to consider 240 days of service within one year of contractual service, addressing the issues raised and ensuring better job security for contractual employees. The statement also noted that under the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024, the benefit of job security would be granted to those contractual employees who complete five years of contractual service before August 15, 2024.

The Haryana Cabinet's recent approvals reflect a commitment to addressing issues related to both the Common Eligibility Test (CET) and the job security of contractual employees. These changes aim to create a more equitable and transparent system for recruitment and contractual employment in the state, benefiting both Group C and D job seekers as well as contractual employees.

Editor's Note:

The recent decisions made by the Haryana Cabinet are crucial steps towards enhancing fairness and job security in the state's recruitment processes. By aligning the Common Eligibility Test (CET) policy with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and addressing the concerns of contractual employees, these amendments aim to create a more equitable system. These changes not only improve recruitment processes for Group C and D positions but also ensure that contractual employees are treated more fairly, with their service days properly accounted for.

Skoobuzz appreciates the decision as it reflects the government’s responsiveness to public concerns and its effort to foster a more transparent and just system.