The Resounding Voice for Contract Workers’ Rights: Gulab Rabbani Leads Historic CAT Victory
Reyasat Ali Sameer
Senior Correspondent
New Delhi : A new ray of hope has emerged for Delhi’s contractual health workers as the Delhi State Contractual Employees’ Association, under the leadership of Gulab Rabbani, secured a historic victory in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). This triumph has paved the way for the dream of permanent employment for thousands of contract workers to become a reality. Gulab Rabbani, who has been relentlessly fighting for the rights of contract workers, has now become a symbol of their struggle.CAT’s Landmark VerdictOn March 12, 2025, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) delivered a significant ruling on a petition (OA-3837/2024) filed by the Delhi State Contractual Employees’ Association. The tribunal declared the Delhi government’s policy of October 11, 2020, as inadequate, which had only granted age relaxation to contract workers for participating in new recruitment processes. Terming it an injustice to contract workers, CAT directed the government to formulate a new policy within six months, in line with the Supreme Court’s Jaggo case, ensuring permanent appointments for contract workers. Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghosh and AOR Filza Munish effectively represented the case.Decades-Long Plight of Contract WorkersThousands of contract workers are employed in various departments of the Delhi government, including health, education, and transport. However, compared to permanent employees, they face numerous challenges: job insecurity, lower wages, lack of social security, and discrimination in promotions and salary increments. Gulab Rabbani consistently raised these issues with the government, but when no concrete action was taken, he resorted to the legal route.Gulab Rabbani’s Struggle: A Beacon of HopeBorn in Bihar, Gulab Rabbani began his career as a contract worker and experienced these issues firsthand. After witnessing the plight of qualified and experienced contract workers being denied permanent positions due to government policies, he founded the Delhi State Contractual Employees’ Association and became its General Secretary, giving a new direction to the movement. Under his leadership, the association fought on multiple fronts—from negotiations with the government to street protests and legal battles in courts. In 2013, a Delhi High Court ruling (Sonia Gandhi vs. Delhi Government) had raised hopes for the regularization of contract workers, but the government failed to implement it. Later, Rabbani challenged the 2020 policy in CAT, calling it unjust.Impact of the VerdictThis landmark CAT decision has brought a wave of joy among Delhi’s thousands of contract workers. The ruling is not only significant for Delhi but could also inspire contract workers across the country. If the government fails to formulate a new policy within six months, the association is prepared to file a contempt petition. Association Vice President Kamalkant Sharma and Treasurer Yogesh Dharwal attributed this victory to the unity of all contract workers.The Road AheadGulab Rabbani stated, “This victory is our beginning, not the end. We will continue fighting until every contract worker gets their rightful dues.” The contributions of late Ashok Kumar Yadav, Santosh Kumar Rai, and Lalit Kumar, among others, were also pivotal in this struggle. All eyes are now on the Delhi government to see how seriously it complies with this order.Demands of Contract WorkersPermanent appointments and equal pay.Pension, insurance, and other social security benefits.Non-discriminatory promotions and salary increments.Gulab Rabbani’s struggle has become a symbol not only for contract workers but also for the power of unity and legal battles in a democracy.
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