High Court of Gujarat
BABUBHAI BHIKHABHAI THAKARDAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Decided
- Disposal
- 35-ANY OTHER MODE @ ADM.STAGE
- Bench
- NIRZAR S DESAI
Holding
The Court held that the respondents must decide the petitioners’ claim in accordance with law, adding Sundays and public holidays to the days worked as directed by the Supreme Court precedent.
Summary
The petitioners, who have worked for more than five years and over 240 days each year for the State of Gujarat, sought the grant of a benefit under Government Resolutions dated 17‑10‑1988, 15‑09‑2014 and 06‑04‑2016. They contended that, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Workmen of American Express International Banking Corporation v. Management of American Express International Banking Corporation (AIR 1986 SC 458), Sundays and public holidays should be counted towards the 240‑day threshold. The respondents had not yet decided the petitioners’ representation dated 28‑08‑2025. The Court, without addressing the merits, directed the respondents to consider the petitioners’ claim in accordance with the cited resolutions and to include Sundays and public holidays when calculating days worked, and to render a decision within ten weeks. The petition was thereafter disposed of.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioners are entitled to the benefit under the specified Government Resolutions when they have worked more than 240 days per year, including Sundays and public holidays as per Supreme Court precedent.
- Whether the respondents are required to decide the petitioners’ representation and calculate the days of service in accordance with the Supreme Court decision and the Government Resolutions.
Subjects
- Government Resolutions
- Service Benefit
- Work Days Calculation
- Supreme Court Precedent
- Administrative Law
- Special Civil Application
Judgment
C/SCA/14136/2025 ORDER DATED: 12/01/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO.14136 of 2025
=========================================
BABUBHAI BHIKHABHAI THAKARDA
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.
=========================================
Appearance :
MS VIDHI J BHATT for the Petitioner.
MS DHRUTI PANDYA, AGP for the Respondents.
=========================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIRZAR S. DESAI
Date : 12/01/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned advocate Ms. Vidhi Bhatt on behalf of
the petitioners and learned Assistant Government Pleader Ms.
Dhruti Pandya, behalf of the respondent – State.
2. By way of this petition, the petitioners inter alia raises
a grievance as regards not being granted the bene昀椀t of
Government Resolutions dated 17.10.1988, 15.09.2014 and
06.04.2016 inspite of the petitioners having worked for more than
5 years with the respondents where the petitioners complete more
than 240 days in a year.
2.1. It is also the case of the petitioners that while
petitioners may have actually worked for a much longer period, if
the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in case of Workmen
of American Express International Banking Corporation vs.
Management of American Express International Banking
Corporation [AIR 1986 SC 458] were to be followed by the
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C/SCA/14136/2025 ORDER DATED: 12/01/2026
respondents i.e. the respondents while calculating the number of
years where the petitioner had worked for more than 240 days
have added Sundays and Public Holidays, which would have enured
in favour of the petitioners.
2.2. It also appears here that while the petitioner has
preferred representation dated 28.08.2025, the same has not been
decided by the respondents appropriately.
3. In the considered opinion of this Court, since no
decision has been taken by the respondents, at this stage, the
grievance of the petitioners could be assuaged by directing the
respondents to consider the case of the petitioners in accordance
with law more particularly in accordance with the directions that
would follow. Learned advocates for the respective parties would
not have any objection to the same. Hence, the following directions
are passed :-
(i) The petitioner to provide a copy of the petition as
representation to the respondent No.3 with a copy to the
respondent No.2 within a period of two weeks from today.
(ii) The respondents to decide the same in accordance with
law more particularly in light of the policy of the State Government
vide Government Resolutions dated 17.10.1988, 15.09.2014 and
06.04.2016.
(iii) The respondents shall while calculating the number of
days put in by the petitioners for the purpose of grant of bene昀椀t as
per the above referred Government Resolutions, shall add Sundays
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C/SCA/14136/2025 ORDER DATED: 12/01/2026
and Public Holidays to the number of days worked by the
petitioners in the year concerned more particularly as per the law
laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in case of Workmen of
American Express International Banking Corporation (supra).
(iv) The respondents, more particularly respondent No.3 in
consultation with respondent No.2 shall take appropriate decision
within a period of ten weeks from the date of receipt of such
representation preferred by the petitioner.
3.1. It is clari昀椀ed that this Court has not gone into the
merits of the matter and whereas, the respondents shall take a
decision strictly in accordance with law and as per the extant policy
of the State Government.
3.2. Needless to state that in case the petitioners are
aggrieved by the said decision, it would be open for the petitioner
to challenge the same in accordance with law.
4. With these observations and directions, the present
petition stands disposed of. Direct service is permitted.
(NIRZAR S. DESAI,J)
SAVARIYA
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: RAJNISH NARENDRA SAVARIYA(HC00179), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 12/01/2026 17:16:22
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