The Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) has initiated the process to regularise the services of at least 450 contractual employees following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.The HC, on September 3, 2025, issued orders: “The respondents are directed to ensure that the petitioners are regularised within six weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order by the competent authorities. If not, the petitioners shall be deemed to be regularised on the expiry of six weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. The petitioners shall be entitled to counting of past service and other benefits.”The PRTC management challenged the orders, but no stay was granted by the court. Instead, on the request of the contractual employees a compliance report of the orders was sought by the HC on or before April 29, 2026. To avoid legal complications, the PRTC Managing Director on April 29 issued directions to comply with the HC orders.The MD ordered: “The competent authority at the time of passing individual orders shall take into consideration the present service status of the petitioners and shall pass appropriate orders in the cases where the petitioners, if any, has been terminated or have superannuated or died the interregnum period. The services of petitioners are hereby ordered to be regularised with effect from October 15, 2025, subject to final outcome of some pending appeals.”The employees, including drivers, conductors, mechanics and office staff, have been working on a contractual basis for over two decades. They had approached the HC in 2021 after not being regularised despite long years of service.Meanwhile, president of the Punjab Roadways and PRTC Contract Workers Union Harkesh Kumar Vicky said the workers had finally secured their right after a prolonged legal battle and urged the authorities to expedite the process to regularise their services.