‘Illegal’ job regularization: Kerala govt seeks more time to respond to contempt plea

Kochi: The state govt has sought an additional week to file a reply before the high court in a petition seeking the initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the chief secretary and others, alleging illegal regularisation of daily-wage and contract appointments by the state in violation of a court order.The bench of Justice C P Mohamed Nias allowed the request and adjourned the petition to Feb 20 for the state govt's reply. HC was considering a petition by M Abdul Vahid of Malappuram seeking the initiation of contempt proceedings against the chief secretary for allegedly violating a court order in 2025 by regularising contract appointments in various departments and PSUs. The petitioner further alleged that various state govt departments are continuing to take steps to regularise persons who were appointed temporarily and without following due process.In support of his contention, he produced a copy of a GO dated Jan 3, 2026, by which librarians, nursery-school teachers and ayahs were regularised as part-time contingent employees. The petitioner further contended that, in total disregard of HC's order, the state govt continues to resort to the regularisation of persons who were illegally appointed.