The High Court of Karnataka has directed the regularisation of service of 68-year-old Venkatarama Hegde, who retired 10 years ago. Hegde had worked as an attender-cum-bill collector on a contract basis at a gram panchayat in Sirsi taluk, Uttara Kannada district, since 1994—totalling 21 years. The court said, "The right to consideration for service does not evaporate on attainment of age of superannuation as the petitioner retired as daily wage contract employee while his claim for regularisation subsisted." Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed this order while allowing Hegde's petition. His service should be regularised from January 9, 2004, the date he completed 10 years of contract service. Despite a recommendation by the gram panchayat and a 2014 court directive, Hegde’s service was not regularised. Citing Supreme Court rulings, including the 2006 case of State of Karnataka vs. Umadevi and the 2015 Dharam Singh vs. State of UP, the Karnataka High Court said employees with 10 years or more of service, regardless of temporary or contractual status, deserve consideration for regularisation if qualified. The court clarified that Hegde is entitled to all benefits based on his service from 1994 to 2015, except salary arrears. Importantly, the court warned State authorities not to use the Umadevi judgment as an excuse to refuse regularisation. It noted, "Certain restriction for regularisation mentioned in Umadevi’s case cannot be deployed as a shield to perpetuate injustice or to deny legitimate regularisation to employees who have served State for decades."