Post-Doctoral Research Asso. Of S.V. ... vs Union Of India And Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the validity of the Research Associateship scheme under the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), emphasizing that such positions are not employment but temporary arrangements for research. The Court held that the petitioners, as Research Associates, do not possess a right to continue beyond the contract period, as their tenure is explicitly defined and not intended to provide permanent employment. The Court declined to direct the UGC or CSIR to modify the scheme, affirming the temporary nature of the Associateship and the lack of entitlement to extension beyond the stipulated period.