High Court Directs Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation To Regularize Employee From Original Appointment Date -- Medical Fitness Dispute Resolved With Continuity Of Service -- Writ Petition Partly Allowed

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Case Note & Summary

The petitioner, appointed as a Male Nurse on 14.04.2011, was terminated based on initial medical unfitness findings but later reinstated after being declared fit -- During pendency of the writ petition, the petitioner was reinstated, leaving only the regularization date in dispute -- The respondent Corporation regularized him w.e.f. 28.06.2014, while the petitioner claimed regularization from 14.04.2013 -- The Court found the break in service was due to medical opinions and not intentional absence, entitling the petitioner to continuity of service -- The Court directed regularization from 14.04.2013 and payment of salary for the intervening period, allowing the petition partly

Headnote

The High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad, in a writ petition filed under Articles 14, 16, and 226 of the Constitution of India, addressed the issue of regularization date for an employee whose service was interrupted due to medical fitness disputes -- The petitioner, appointed as a Male Nurse on 14.04.2011 on fixed wage, faced termination based on initial medical unfitness findings, but was later reinstated after being declared fit by the Board of Referees -- The respondent Corporation regularized the petitioner w.e.f. 28.06.2014, while the petitioner claimed regularization should be from 14.04.2013, after completing two years from his original appointment -- The Court held that since the break in service was due to medical opinions and not intentional absence, the petitioner was entitled to continuity of service and regularization from the date he completed two years of service from his original appointment -- The Court directed the respondent to regularize the petitioner w.e.f. 14.04.2013 and pay salary for the intervening period

Issue of Consideration: The Issue of regularization date for an employee whose service was interrupted due to medical fitness disputes

Final Decision

The Court partly allowed the writ petition, directing the respondent to regularize the petitioner w.e.f. 14.04.2013 instead of 28.06.2014 and to pay salary for the period from 14.04.2013 to 27.06.2014

2026 LawText (GUJ) (01) 563

R/Special Civil Application No. 10515 of 2012

2026-01-08

Maulik J. Shelat J.

2026:GUJHC:1242

Mr. Rishabh Acharya for Ms. Harshal N. Pandya, Mr. H.S. Munshaw

Pradip Rameshbhai Dabagar

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation & Anr.

Nature of Litigation: Writ petition challenging termination and seeking regularization with back wages

Remedy Sought

Petitioner seeking quashing of termination resolution, reinstatement with full back wages, continuity of service, and regularization from original appointment date

Filing Reason

Termination based on medical unfitness findings later contradicted by subsequent medical opinions

Previous Decisions

Petitioner reinstated during pendency of petition, leaving only regularization date in dispute

Issues

Whether the petitioner is entitled to regularization from 14.04.2013 instead of 28.06.2014 Whether the break in service due to medical opinions should affect continuity of service

Submissions/Arguments

Petitioner argued break in service was due to medical disputes and not intentional absence, entitling him to continuity and regularization from original appointment date Respondent argued absence period should not count toward service continuity due to initial medical unfitness findings

Ratio Decidendi

When service interruption is due to medical opinions and not intentional absence, the employee is entitled to continuity of service and regularization from the date they complete the required service period from their original appointment

Judgment Excerpts

The Court held that since the break in service of the petitioner was due to the medical opinion received by the respondent at the relevant point of time, and there was nothing on record to suggest intentional lapse, the petitioner was entitled to continuity of service The Court directed the respondent to regularize the petitioner w.e.f. 14.04.2013 and pay salary for the intervening period

Procedural History

Writ petition filed in 2012 -- Petitioner reinstated during pendency -- Matter heard on 08.01.2026 -- Judgment delivered orally on same date

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High Court High Court Directs Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation To Regularize Employee From Original Appointment Date -- Medical Fitness Dispute Resolved With Continuity Of Service -- Writ Petition Partly Allowed
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