Punjab and Haryana HC ends 1999 Haryana JBT recruitment dispute, protects over 3,200 teachers; around 160 petitioners to get jobs
Bringing an end to a recruitment dispute that has remained pending for more than two decades, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has modified a 2014 Single Judge judgment after the Haryana Government decided not to terminate the services of over 3,200 JBT teachers appointed through the 1999 recruitment process and instead offer prospective appointments to around 160 petitioners found to be within the zone of selection on the basis of academic merit.
The Division Bench of Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Amarinder Singh Grewal accepted the State government’s proposal, making it clear that the order was based solely on the government’s stand agreed to by all parties and did not amount to a judicial determination on the merits of the case.
“The present order has been passed solely in view of the stand taken by the respondent State. Nothing contained in this order shall be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the issues raised in the present appeals,” the Bench observed.
The dispute relates to the recruitment of 3,206 Junior Basic Training teachers by the Om Parkash Chautala government in 1999. In January 2014, a Single Judge had held that the published selection list was not genuine as it did not include all meritorious candidates and ruled that the recruitment process was vitiated, directing the preparation of a fresh consolidated merit list.
The State government, however, informed the court that implementing those directions was no longer feasible as original interview records and award lists from several districts were either missing, incomplete or did not contain interview marks. It argued that reconstructing the merit list after nearly 25 years was practically impossible.
The government also cited extraordinary circumstances, pointing out that the selected teachers had already served for more than two decades and some had retired after attaining the age of superannuation. It contended that disturbing their appointments at this stage would cause serious administrative hardship and adversely affect the functioning of the Education Department.
Accepting this position, the High Court recorded the government’s decision that all teachers appointed through the 1999 recruitment process would be allowed to continue in service and no action would be taken to terminate their appointments because of the pending litigation.
The State also examined the claims of the 221 writ petitioners covered by the 2014 judgment by considering only academic merit and excluding interview marks. It found that around 160 petitioners fell within the zone of selection and decided to offer them prospective appointments against available vacancies.
The government clarified that these appointments would not carry retrospective seniority, continuity of service, back wages, arrears or any other consequential monetary or service benefits. It also stated that the decision was being taken as a one time equitable measure to resolve the long pending litigation and would not be treated as a precedent in any other case.
The High Court noted that all litigating parties accepted the government’s proposal. While allowing the appointed teachers to continue in service, it also granted the writ petitioners liberty to approach the government for consideration of retrospective effect and notional benefits.
With the consensus reached, the Division Bench modified the Single Judge’s January 8, 2014 judgment in terms of the Haryana government’s decision communicated on July 28, 2026, effectively bringing the decades old recruitment dispute to a close.