After HC intervention, HRTC to reconsider Two-Increment benefit for 20-Year veterans
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, Jan 14,
Hundreds of long-serving conductors and multi-task workers of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), who have completed two decades of service without receiving due financial recognition, may finally see relief following the intervention of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
A single bench of Justice Sandeep Sharma has directed the state-run transport corporation to reconsider the case of a petitioner seeking the grant of two additional increments on completion of 20 years of regular service. The court order has wider implications, as it reinforces HRTC’s own recently issued policy on extending such benefits to conductors.
During the hearing, HRTC placed on record an office letter dated December 20, 2025, circulated to all its offices across Himachal Pradesh. The letter contains consolidated instructions for granting two additional increments to conductors who have completed 20 years of regular service. The corporation informed the court that it is already in the process of implementing the decision.
Counsel appearing for HRTC submitted that the newly issued instructions adequately address the grievance raised in the petition, which highlighted the prolonged denial of financial benefits to conductors and multi-task workers primarily deployed as conductors despite rendering uninterrupted service for two decades.
Taking note of the submission, the High Court directed HRTC to reconsider the petitioner’s case afresh strictly in terms of the December 20, 2025 instructions. The court ordered that the entire exercise be completed within six weeks and that the final decision be formally communicated to the petitioner.
With these directions, the writ petition was disposed of, opening the door for similarly placed employees to seek the long-pending pecuniary benefits.
The petition had drawn attention to what employees described as a glaring anomaly—HRTC, despite being regarded as one of the country’s better-performing public transport undertakings and a recipient of several national awards for service excellence, had not extended corresponding financial incentives to a segment of its most experienced frontline workers.
The High Court’s order is now expected to act as a catalyst for uniform implementation of the benefit, potentially impacting a large number of veteran conductors awaiting long-overdue financial recognition for their service.
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