Kishor Kumar Kanoo and 10 Ors v. The State of Assam and 6 Ors

ORDER 28-08-2023

Heard Mr. J.I. Barbhuiya, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. D. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Assam appearing for the respondents.

¶2The petitioners before this Court claim to be Muster Roll workers under Page No.# 4/5 the Public Health Department since 1993. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioners have been performing their duties as Muster Roll workers, but they are shown to be on a fixed incentive of Rs.5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand only) per month instead of giving them fixed pay. So, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are putting more than 10

(ten) years of service and are therefore entitled to be given the benefits as directed by this Court in W.A. No.45/2014 (the State of Assam vs. Upen Das & Ors.) by judgment and order dated 08.06.2017. It is submitted that in spite of the applications and representations being filed before the concerned authorities, the cases of the petitioners have not been considered. They have not been given the minimum of pay scale as held by this Court in Upen Das & Ors. (supra).

¶3Mr. D. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, PHE submits that his instructions in this matter are awaited.

¶4Considering the prayers made in the writ petition that the petitioners are claiming the benefits in terms of the directions passed by this Court in Upen Das & Ors. (supra), this Court is of the view that the matter need not be kept pending for want of instructions from the respondent authorities. Accordingly, this Court is of the view that the writ petition can be disposed of with a direction to the respondent authorities to consider the claims of the petitioners individually in terms of the directions given by this Court in Upen Das & Ors. (supra) read with the directions of the Apex Court passed in State of Punjab vs. Jagjit Singh reported in (2017) 1 SCC 148. If the benefit of fixed and minimum pay scale and other benefits have been offered to similarly situated persons who are employees of the Government of Assam, then the cases of the petitioners are also required to be considered as per law. Accordingly, the Page No.# 5/5 petitioners are permitted to file their individual representations before the competent authority i.e. the Secretary to the Government of Assam, Public Health Engineering Department the respondent no.5 within a period of 10 (ten) days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order and thereafter, the concerned authority will consider the cases of the petitioners and pass appropriate orders thereon within a further period of 60 (sixty) days from the date of receipt of the application of the petitioner(s).

¶5In terms of the above, the writ petition stands disposed of. JUDGE Comparing Assistant

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