Authority: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction
Order Date: 03 September 2026
Case Overview
- Parties: State of Gujarat & others (Appellants) vs Gujarat State Karmachari Sankalan Samiti, through its Chairman (Respondents).
- The appeal challenges a High Court of Gujarat Division Bench judgment dated 26‑06‑2025, issued in review of Letters Patent Appeal No. 1327/2019.
- The High Court, exercising review jurisdiction, enlarged relief originally granted to Multipurpose Health Workers (MPHWs) to all 3,509 members of the Samiti, stating they were MPHWs as of 2011.
- The Samiti later filed a counter‑affidavit stating only 85 members would seek relief, though it provided details of all 3,509 members, all showing a joining date of 20‑06‑2011 and identical handwriting.
- Verification revealed that of the 85 members, only four were genuine; these four have been regularized.
- Senior counsel for the appellants demonstrated that the remaining 81 members' claims lacked merit.
- The Supreme Court observed that the Samiti attempted to obtain undue advantage by projecting all members as eligible for regularization, and the High Court’s expansion of relief exceeded its review jurisdiction.
Final Outcome
- The appeal is allowed.
- The direction of the Division Bench (paragraph 71 of the impugned judgment) granting relief to all Samiti members is set aside, except for the four members who have been regularized.
- The transgression of review jurisdiction by the High Court will not be treated as precedent.
- All pending applications, if any, are disposed of.
- The case is de‑tagged and re‑listed for hearing on 21‑09‑2026.
Topics: Legal Relief, Labor Regularization