After nearly one and a half years of uncertainty, Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam has reinstated four executive engineers whose services were terminated over an alleged reservation-related dispute. The decision comes after both the Nainital High Court and the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the engineers, questioning the justification of removing officers after long years of service.
The four engineers — 2005 batch officers Munish Karara, Mujammil Hasan and Sumit Anand, along with 2007 batch executive engineer Sarita — were dismissed in June 2024. The Peyjal Nigam management had accused them of securing government jobs by allegedly taking wrongful benefit of reservation in Uttarakhand.
Following the allegations, the corporation sent the case file to the personnel department for advice. Acting on its directions, the engineers were given an opportunity to present their side. After their replies were termed unsatisfactory, the management terminated their services, triggering legal action.
Challenging the decision, the affected engineers approached the Nainital High Court. After hearing both sides, the High Court ruled in their favour on humanitarian grounds, observing that terminating employees after they had rendered long years of service was not appropriate. The corporation subsequently moved the Supreme Court, but the apex court upheld the High Court’s verdict.
With no legal options left, the Peyjal Nigam management on Friday reinstated all four executive engineers and issued fresh posting orders assigning them to different cities. Managing Director Ranveer Singh Chauhan confirmed that the services were restored in compliance with the High Court and Supreme Court orders.
The case has once again highlighted administrative lapses and delays within government corporations, raising questions over accountability when careers are disrupted for long periods before judicial correction.
