Court Directs State of Haryana to Extend Leave Travel Concession, Medical Reimbursement, and Other Emoluments to Deputy and Assistant Advocate Generals
In a landmark judgment, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled in favor of contractual law officers, including Deputy Advocate Generals (DAGs) and Assistant Advocate Generals (AAGs), granting them the same service benefits as regular government employees. The ruling was delivered by Justice Sandeep Moudgil on February 20, 2026, in response to a writ petition filed by Shruti Jain and other law officers against the State of Haryana.
The court found the denial of benefits such as Leave Travel Concession (LTC), medical reimbursement, and other emoluments to be arbitrary and in violation of the principles of equality and legitimate expectation. The petitioners were appointed under the Haryana Law Officers (Engagement) Act, 2016, on a contractual basis but were performing roles and responsibilities aligned with those of regular government employees.
Justice Moudgil emphasized that the nature of the petitioners' duties and their engagement in public service warranted the extension of these benefits. The court noted that the petitioners were appointed to sanctioned posts, prohibited from private practice, and received regular pay scales, thereby blurring the lines between contractual and regular employment.
The court’s decision took into account the doctrine of legitimate expectation and the constitutional obligation to ensure fair and equitable treatment of government-appointed legal professionals. The ruling directs the State of Haryana to release the aforementioned benefits within four weeks from the receipt of the court's order, reinforcing the court's commitment to uphold service-oriented governance and justice.
The judgment is expected to have wide-ranging implications for the treatment of contractual employees in similar positions across various state departments, setting a precedent for the recognition of their roles within the government framework.
Bottom Line:
Contractual law officers such as Deputy Advocate Generals (DAGs) and Assistant Advocate Generals (AAGs) appointed by the State Government are entitled to service benefits like Leave Travel Concession (LTC), medical reimbursement, and other emoluments, as their roles and responsibilities align with those of regular government employees, despite the contractual nomenclature of their engagements.
Statutory provision(s): Haryana Law Officers (Engagement) Act, 2016, Article 226 of the Constitution of India
Shruti Jain v. State of Haryana, (Punjab And Haryana) : Law Finder Doc id # 2857130
