All Assam Diet Officers Association v. The Union of India and 32 Ors

ORDER Date : 19.06.2023

Heard Ms. D.Borgohain, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. D.J.Das, learned CGC for the respondent No.1; Mr. N.J.Khataniar, learned standing counsel, Elementary Education for the respondent No.2; Mr. S.Bora, learned standing counsel, SCERT for the respondent No.3; Ms. P.Sharma, learned standing counsel, APSC for the respondent No.4; Mr. A.Chaliha, learned standing counsel, Finance for the respondent No.5; Mr. P.Saikia, learned Govt. Advocate for the respondent No.6 and Ms. N.Mahanta, learned counsel for the respondent Nos. 7 to 33.

¶2The petitioner before this Court is aggrieved by the inaction of the State Page No.# 7/9 respondents in restructuring the District Institute of Education and Training

(DIET) in Assam despite necessary restructuring been done in respect of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in terms of the recommendation made by the Ministry of Human Resource Development

(MHRD) for restructuring and strengthening the SCERT as well as the DIET in the State in terms of the report made in 2009 as well as the guidelines for implementing such recommendation.

¶3Prior to the Institution of this writ petition, the petitioner had also approached this Court by filing WP(C)/9056/2019 which was disposed of by order dated 09.12.2019, directing the respondents to consider the representation dated 17.01.2018 submitted by the petitioner as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of 4(four) months and at least before finalizing the restructuring of the SCERT, so that restructuring and reorganizing of both the DIET and SCERT can be completed at the same time and both can have similar benefits, from the date of receipt of a copy of the order of this Court along with a copy of the writ petition.

¶4Thereafter, the Commissioner & Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Elementary Education Department passed the speaking order dated 18th of May, 2020 and the operative portion reads as under:

"The Restructuring and Reorganization of the Directorate of SCERT, Assam and 83 posts sanctioned for SCERT, Assam in the year 2016-17 means strengthening of SCERT Assam as par Govt. of India Guidelines, 2012 vide Govt. letter No. PMA.337/2017/Pt/267 dated 13.02.2017. In Part IV: Special Provision under Rule 28 of Page No.# 8/9 the Assam Education (Research and Training Gazetted) Service Order, 2017 provided that the existing faculties of SCERT, Assam absorbed in the posts as one time measures which is not taken as precedent. The DPC meeting held on 14.12.2017, recommended absorbing of the existing incumbents in position of SCERT by way of promotion, who are eligible under Service Order 2017 through Government Notifications dated

29.12.2017 under 4(d) of the APSC (L & F) Regulation 1951 in the posts created under restructuring and reorganization of SCERT. Their services have been extended from time to time for more than 28 months. The Personnel (B) Department advised vide their U/O letter no 288/2019 dated 13.05.2019 and U/O No. 883/2019 dated 05.11.2019 communicated dated 22.11.2019 for regularization of 32 incumbents with APSC. The Department will therefore, move APSC for regularization of posts of 32 incumbents promoted under restructuring and reorganization of SCERT, Assam in line with the views of the Sr. Standing Counsel, Education Department dated 29.04.2020. "

¶5Being aggrieved with the speaking order dated 18th of May, 2020, the petitioner is before this Court by way of the present writ petition.

¶6A perusal of the speaking order dated 08th of May, 2020 would indicate that 3 files have been processed for considering the case of the petitioner i.e., reorganizing and restructuring of DIET in Assam. The 3 files were processed as early as June, 2014 and January 2019 respectively. Further perusal of the order indicates that the respondents are initiating a process but at a very slow pace without taking into account that the restructuring has been initiated in terms of the guidelines of the MHRD which relates back as early as 2012.

¶7At this stage, Mr. N.J.Khataniar, learned standing counsel, Elementary Education submits that a Cabinet Memorandum has been prepared, however, Page No.# 9/9 the same is yet to be placed before Cabinet inasmuch as the file containing the said Cabinet Memorandum is with him for placing the same before this Court.

¶8After hearing the parties, this Court is of the considered opinion that it would be in the ends of justice to dispose of the writ petition instead of keeping it pending by directing the respondents to expedite the restructuring and reorganizing the DIET in Assam inasmuch as the Cabinet Memorandum has already been prepared. Concerning that the processing of files has taken place as early as June, 2014, this Court directs the respondents to expedite the process and bring the same to its logical conclusion within a period of 4(four) months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order of this Court.

¶9With the above observations and directions, this writ petition is disposed of. JUDGE Comparing Assistant

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