( 2026:HHC:14691 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.4900 of 2026 Date of Decision:- 30.04.2026 Virochan Thakur and Ors. ....Petitioners Versus State of Himachal Pradesh & Anr. ....Respondents Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice The Hon’ble Mr. Justice, Bipin Chander Negi, Judge Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioners : Mr. Anirudh Sharma, Advocate. For the Respondents: : Mr. Pranay Pratap Singh, Additional Advocate General. G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice (Oral). In the present writ petition, the relief is sought for counting the contractual service rendered by the petitioners from the initial date of the appointment as Assistant Professor Tour & Travel (College Cadre) on 23.01.2023 (Annexure P-1), for the purpose of seniority and all other consequential service benefits. 2. Counsel for the petitioners has fairly submitted that the regularization as such was granted two years later on 21.05.2025 on the said post. On account of the Himachal Pradesh Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Government 1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2 Employees Act, 2024 (Annexure P-2), the respondents as such have not acted upon the representation submitted for counting their services rendered on contractual basis with all consequential benefits from the initial date of the contractual appointment. 3. A perusal of the representation would go on to show that the reference was made to the pendency of CWP No.3361 of 2025 alongwith connected matters, titled as Devinder Kumar & others Vs. State of Himachal Pradesh & another wherein the validity of the Act itself was subject matter of consideration and therefore, in such circumstances, the present petition came to be filed. 4. Counsel for the petitioner fairly submits that the said dispute has now been settled in as much as the Act itself has been struck down by the detailed judgment dated 25.04.2026 in Devinder Kumar’s case (supra). 5. In such circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that it would be appropriate if the State is now called upon to look into the representation for grant of seniority and consequential benefits which was not considered on account of the pendency of the litigation and the petitioner had approahced this Court. 3 6. Resultantly, we direct the State as such to decide the representation submitted on 10.02.2026 appended alongwith the writ petition within a period of eight weeks from the receipt of the certified copy of this judgment. 7. Accordingly, the present petition stands disposed of. Pending miscellaneous application(s) if any, shall also stand disposed of. (G.S. Sandhawalia) Chief Justice (Bipin Chander Negi) Judge 30th April, 2026 (Munish Thakur)