Can UKPSC posts be filled through outsourcing? Uttarakhand HC asks state

Dehradun: Uttarakhand HC has sought clarification from the state govt on whether positions under the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC) can be filled through outsourcing agencies. The inquiry was made by a single bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal during the hearing of a petition filed by junior assistants in Chamoli's Zila Panchayat. These employees, hired through an outsourcing agency, have been working for over a decade and are now seeking regularisation, citing a 2018 division bench judgement, which was upheld by Supreme Court.
The court raised several key questions during the proceedings, asking if appointments against sanctioned posts, including Class II posts, could be legally made via outsourcing agencies. It also asked if such appointments were conducted in consultation with the UKPSC.
Further, the court demanded details on the "criteria and procedures followed for recruitment through outsourcing agencies, including whether the appointments were based on recommendations from a subject experts' selection committee". It also sought a list of all empanelled outsourcing agencies and the criteria used for their empanelment.
The state was also directed to clarify if sanctioned posts could be filled by outsourcing while bypassing statutory recruitment rules and to identify the authority responsible for overseeing these agencies. The matter has been adjourned to Dec 4 for the next hearing.