Panaji, February 2025: Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai raised a crucial issue concerning the fate of thousands of contract staff working in various government departments, local bodies, autonomous institutions, and educational establishments during the Zero Hour of the Goa Legislative Assembly’s winter session.
Referring to a Legislative Assembly Question (LAQ 004C) dated 22nd July 2024, Sardesai highlighted that 1,480 staff members are employed on a contract basis in the Directorate offices alone. He pointed out that when factoring in all government-affiliated institutions, the total number of contract workers would be in the tens of thousands, raising concerns about job security and fair employment practices.
In his intervention, Sardesai cited the recent Supreme Court judgment in Jaggo vs. Union of India (SLP (C) No. 5580 of 2024, dated 20th December 2024). The apex court ruled that long-term temporary employees performing essential functions within government institutions cannot be denied regularization solely because they were initially appointed as temporary. The judgment strongly condemned the misuse of contractual employment in the public sector and emphasized the need to ensure fair treatment and prevent arbitrary termination of long-serving temporary employees.
Seeking clarity on the government’s stance, Sardesai directly questioned the Chief Minister about the future of these contract workers. In response, the Chief Minister stated that he would “verify” the matter, offering no concrete assurance.
