(1.) By this judgment we propose to dispose of above mentioned nine writ petitions. Out of them six writ petitions i.e. CWP Nos. 12753 of 1999, 2220, 2453, 2490, 2491 and 8519 of 2001 have come up for hearing after notice, while three others being CWP Nos. 15862 of 2002, 5518 and 5487 of 2002 have been listed for preliminary hearing. A common question of law, (sic) facts and circumstances, arise for consideration in all these writ petitions, therefore, we consider it appropriate to deal with and dispose of all these writ petition by this common judgment.
(2.) The petitioner in all the petitions had joined the Education Department (sic) Mistresses, Teachers, Lecturer on contract basis in different schools and college in the State. All the petitioners are ladies and have been continuing in employment for a considerable period as they were appointed during the period 1997-98 and their terms for appointment was extended on different occasions. These petitioners claim that they are entitled to get service benefit particularly the maternity leave benefit which has been allowed to the teachers similarly placed alike the petitioners. For this purposes they reply upon judgment of a Division Bench of this court in the case of Polu Ram and another v. State of Haryana and another, 1998 4 RSJ 152, the Special Leave Petition against which is admittedly pending but interim stay was vacated by the Hon'ble Apex Court on 22.11.2000. Another judgment relied upon by the petitioner is of a Division Bench of this Court in the case of Uma Rani v. State of Haryana, CWP No. 2375 of 2000, decided on 5.7.2001, where similar relief was granted to the petitioner by the Court.
(3.) Upon notice the respondents filed a detailed reply. It is stated that the petitioners were appointed on contractual basis for 86 days only and as such are not entitled to any service benefit which (sic) of the cadre are entitled to. The Government (sic) department after due consideration of the matter and keeping in mind the judgments afore-referred that the contractual employees/the employees working on 89 days would not be entitled to other service benefits including maternity leave.