IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.11476 of 2025 Decided on: 3rd September, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lt. Col Hardiyal Singh Chauhan …..Petitioner Versus Union of India and others .....Respondents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioner: Dr. Lalit Kumar Sharma, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. Balram Sharma, DSGI with Mr. Rajeev Sharma, Advocate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge With the consent of learned counsel for the parties, matter is heard at this stage. 2. This writ petition has been filed for the grant of following substantive reliefs:- “(i) That the impugned employment notice dated 06/06/2025 Annexure P10 whereby the respondents are going to fill up the post of Officer-in-Charge at ECHS Polyclinic Shimla which is already occupied by the petitioner since 01/04/2023 till date except certain break (Fictional Illegal Break) by another set of contractual appointee may kindly be set aside and quashed. (ii) That respondents may kindly be directed to permit the petitioner to discharge his duty as Officer-in-Charge at ECHS Polyclinic Shimla till the disposal of the SLP(c) 1Whether reporters of print and electronic media may be allowed to see the order? Yes. 2 36359/2016 titled Sonu Kumar vs. UOl and other which is pending adjudication before the Apex Court. (iii) That the impugned Annexure P10 qua the post of Officer-in-Charge at ECHS Polyclinic Shimla being contrary to judgment dated 15/05/2025 passed by this Hon'ble Court in CWP 3260/2016 and connected matters may kindly be set aside and quashed. (iv) That the action of the respondent no.4 so taken in annexure P8 dated 26/04/2025 curtailing the duration of the contract period of the petitioner from 1 year extendable by another year which has been curtailed to 89 days may kindly be set aside and quashed and the respondents may be directed to allow the continuation of the petitioner against the post of OIC Polyclinic in the manner it was done in the earlier occasion.” 3. The gist of petitioner’s case and the issues involved were noticed in the following order passed on 17.07.2025, whereby interim relief was granted to the petitioner:- “Notice. Mr. Balram Sharma, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, appears and waives service of notice on behalf of the respondents. 2. Petitioner is presently serving as Officer-in- Charge at ECHS Polyclinic Shimla, District Shimla, H.P., where he had joined on 01.04.2023. His grievance is to Annexure P10, whereby the respondents have issued employment notice for filling up certain posts at ECHS Polyclinics Shimla, District Shimla on contract basis for a period of one year/renewable for further period of one year. Post of Officer-in-Charge held by the petitioner is also part of aforesaid employment notice. 3. Learned counsel for the parties submit that similar issue, as is involved in the instant petition, is pending before the Hon’ble Apex Court in SLP(C) No.36359 of 2016; That various similar matters have been disposed of by this Court by directing that such petitions would abide by the decision of SLP(C) No.36359 of 2016; That in most of such matters, there is interim protection in favour of the similarly situated petitioners. 4. In view of above, respondents shall maintain status quo qua the petitioner and the respondents shall 3 not proceed ahead in filling up the post held by the petitioner under employment notice Annexure P-10, till further orders. Reply be filed within 10 days, as prayed for. List on 06.08.2025.” 4. Respondents have filed short reply. It is an admitted position that petitioner was manning the post in question on contractual basis, when the said post was advertised by the respondents afresh to be filled up again on contractual basis. Respondents have also not disputed that the issue involved in the instant petition is pending before the Hon’ble Apex Court in Special Leave Petition(C) No.36359/2016 (Sonu Kumar Vs UOI), wherein interim protection has been granted in favour of the petitioner therein, who was similarly situated to the present petitioner. 5. In view of above, this writ petition is disposed of with direction that petitioner’s continuation on the post in question shall abide by the result of the aforesaid Special Leave Petition. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of. Jyotsna Rewal Dua September 03, 2025 Judge Mukesh