UNION OF INDIA & ORS. vs N. HARGOPAL & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that the Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959 applies to government establishments, clarifying that 'establishment' includes government offices as per Section 2(e). The Court ruled that while employers must notify vacancies to employment exchanges under Section 4, they are not obligated to recruit only those candidates sponsored by these exchanges, as stated in Section 4(4). The insistence on recruitment solely from sponsored candidates would violate Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality in employment opportunities.