The Supreme Court has directed the regularisation of long-serving daily-wage employees of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), observing that denying them recognition and job security after decades of service strikes at the core of fairness and dignity in public employment. The ruling came in a case involving workers who had spent years supporting India’s premier space agency.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order while hearing a civil appeal filed by R. Iyyappan and 33 other workers. The petition challenged a July 8, 2024, judgement of the Madras High Court, which had upheld the rejection of their plea seeking regularisation of service.
In its remarks, the apex court drew on iconic images from India’s early space journey, recalling that rocket components for the first sounding rocket launched from Thumba in 1963 were transported on a bicycle. It also referenced satellites being moved on bullock carts, symbols that have long represented the modest beginnings of India’s ambitious space programme.
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The court said that while the nation rightly celebrates the achievements of scientists and engineers, it must not overlook the indispensable contributions of workers who played a supporting but essential role in that collective success. It emphasised that every individual involved in the larger enterprise deserves acknowledgement and fair treatment.
The judges noted that continued denial of regular employment benefits to workers who had served for years was inconsistent with constitutional values and principles of equal treatment. Their observations suggest that institutions benefiting from long-term labour cannot indefinitely keep employees in insecure temporary arrangements.
The decision is expected to bring significant relief to the petitioners and may influence similar cases involving contract and daily-wage staff in government bodies. Beyond the legal outcome, the verdict reinforces the idea that India’s progress, including its space legacy, has been built through the efforts of workers at every level.
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