HP govt moves SC against HC order over outsourcing policy; salary attachment of Horticulture Secretary stayed
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source internet
Shimla, Sept 21
Himachal Pradesh government has approached the Supreme Court against an order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court that led to the attachment of the salary of Horticulture Secretary C. Paulrasu in connection with alleged non-compliance of directions concerning contractual employees engaged through the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Society.
The development came up before the High Court on September 18 when the Division Bench of Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj was informed that the State had challenged the High Court’s September 11 order before the Supreme Court and that an interim order had been passed in favour of the State. The High Court consequently deferred the proceedings till November 6 and exempted the officers from personal appearance on that date.
The dispute arises from a long-running legal battle over the status and service conditions of employees appointed through the Horticulture Development Society. In September 2025, the High Court, while deciding a batch of petitions led by Nitin Thakur, examined whether the Society was genuinely autonomous or was functioning under the effective control of the Horticulture Department.
The petitioners had sought regularisation after completing the prescribed period of contractual service. The judgment examined, among other issues, the role of contractual and outsourced personnel engaged through the Society.
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The State had challenged the High Court’s November 12, 2025 judgment before the Supreme Court. The apex court subsequently dismissed the State’s Special Leave Petition on August 21, 2026, according to the reported Supreme Court proceedings.
Meanwhile, execution and contempt proceedings were initiated before the High Court over implementation of the directions. On September 11, the High Court had taken serious note of the manner in which Paulrasu’s salary was dealt with. The Court had earlier directed attachment of his salary, but subsequently found that the salary had been credited to his bank account before being withheld.
On September 18, Paulrasu appeared personally before the High Court along with the Horticulture Department’s law officer. The Court recorded that the matter had been taken to the Supreme Court against its September 11 order and, in view of the interim protection granted to the State, deferred the proceedings to November 6.
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