Page No.# 1/15 vs The State Of Assam And 5 Ors
2023 Latest Caselaw 1453 Gua

                                                               Page No.# 1/15

GAHC010067482023




                      THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
  (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)

                          Case No. : WP(C)/2003/2023

         RATUL BAISHYA AND 75 ORS
         S/O LT BALORAM BAISHYA, VILL-MOROWA, P.O.-MOROWA, DIST-
         NALBARI, PIN-781348

         2: CHANDAN KALITA
          S/O GANESHWAR KALITA
         VILL-MAURA
          P.O.-KALAG
          DIST-NALBARI
          PIN-781351

         3: RAMEN BAISHYA
          S/O LT. DURGA BAISHYA
         VILL-MOROWA
          P.O.-MOROWA
          DIST-NALBARI
          PIN-781348

         4: JAHANARA BEGUM
         W/O NURHAQUE ALI
         VILL-RAYMADHA
          P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
          DIST-NALBARI
          PIN-781347

         5: PRADIP KAKATI
          S/O GANAPATI KAKATI
         VILL-KALAG
          P.O.-KALAG
          DIST-NALBARI
          PIN-781351

         6: BALEN DAS
          S/O RAMESH CH. DAS
                                 Page No.# 2/15

VILL-DHANIAGOG
P.O.-ARARA
DIST-NALBARI
PIN-781334

7: DIPUL BAISHYA
 S/O KARINA KANTA BAISHYA
VILL-ULABARI
 P.O.-ULABARI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

8: MUKUL DEKA
 S/O LT. ANGAD DEKA
VILL-KATPUHA
 P.O.-ARIKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

9: MANOJ BHATACHARIYA
 S/O LT. PRAMOD BHATTACHARJYA
VILL-SIMULIA
 P.O.-KALAH
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

10: MAMANI KALITA
W/O DHARANI KALITA
VILL-SIMULIA
 P.O.-KALAG
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

11: NIRU DEVI
W/O LT. GAGAN NATH SARMA
VILL-SONKURIHA
 P.O.-KALAG
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

12: BIJULI TALUKDAR
W/IO CHANBABU TALUKDAR
VILL-KATALKUCHI
 P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

13: NAMITA KALITA
                          Page No.# 3/15

S/O MANOJ KALITA
VILL-BARKURIHA
P.O.-BARKURIHA
DIST-NALBARI
ASSAM
PIN-781348

14: PARBATI BHUYAN
W/O AMARENDRA BHUYAN
VILL-BARKURIHA
 P.O.-BARKURIHA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781348

15: PABIN SARMA
 S/O SUREN SARMA
VILL-PROAKUCHI
 P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

16: MOJAFAR ALI
W/O DIDAR ALI
VILL-KHUDRA DINGDINGI
 P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
ASSAM
 PIN-781347

17: AJIT DAS
 S/O LT. RATNESWAR DAS
VILL-ARANGMOW
 P.O.-ARANGMOW
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

18: RITUMONI KALITA
W/O HAREN KALITA
VILL-ARANGMOW
 P.O.-ARANGMOW
 DIST-NALBARI
PIN-781347

19: ABALA DAS
W/O KATIRAM DAS
VILL-DOKOHA
 P.O.-ARANGMOW
 DIST-NALBARI
                         Page No.# 4/15

PIN-781347

20: MINATI DAS
W/O DIPAK DAS
VILL-RAITKUCHI
 P.O.-ULUBARI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

21: NIRANJAN KALITA
 S/O MAHESH KALITA
VILL-ULABARI
 P.O.-ULABARI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

22: PURABI MEDHI
W/O BIDYUT MEDHI
VILL-KARIA
 P.O.-KARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

23: NANI BEZBARUAH
W/O KRISHNA BEZBARUAH
VILL-KARIA
 P.O.-KARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

24: KALINDRA DEKA
 S/O LALIT DEKA
VILL-KATPUHA
 P.O.-ARIKUCHI
 DIST-NALABRI
 PIN-781339

25: BHARATI DEKA
W/O NAKUL DEKA
VILL-BALA
 P.O.-BALA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

26: JULI BARUAH DAS
W/O JOGEN DAS
VILL-KATPUHA
 P.O.-ULABARI
                           Page No.# 5/15

DIST-NALBARI
PIN-781339

27: NAMITA DAS
W/O PARESH DAS
VILL-BAJALI UDAIPUR
 P.O.-BARBARI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

28: PAINUR ALI
 S/O MANTUL ALI
VILL-BARIDATARA
 P.O.-BARIDATARA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

29: RITA KAKATI KALITA
W/O DIPAK KALITA
VILL-BANGALMUR
 P.O.-KALAD
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

30: DEBANJANI KALITA
W/O BIJAY KALITA
VILL-KATALKUCHI
 P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

31: BHARATI HUZURI
W/O BENUDHAR HUZURI
VILL-BARGASHA
 P.O.-LAKHARPARA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781350

32: CHINU KALITA
 S/O BANGSHIDHAR KALITA
VILL-PORAKUCHI
 P.O.-BARKURIHA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781348

33: JYOTI KALITA
W/O SUREN KALITA
VILL-BARKURHI
                           Page No.# 6/15

P.O.-BARKURIH
DIST-NALBARI
PIN-781348

34: DIPTI DEKA
W/O BAPDHAN DEKA
VILL-SANEKUCHI
 P.O.-SANEKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781350

35: HAREN KALITA
 S/O LT. MADHAB KALITA
VILL-UTTARKUCHI
 P.O.-SANEKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781350

36: PARIJAT BEZBARUAH
W/O THANESWAR BEZBARUAH
VILL AND P.O.-SANEKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781350

37: DIPIKA NAMASUDRA
W/O PRAHLAD LAHAKAR
VILL-SANEKUCHI
 P.O.-SANEKUCHI
 DIST-NALABRI
 PIN-781350

38: DIPALI LAHAKAR
W/O BIREN LAHAKA
VILL-SANEKUCHI
 P.O.-SANEKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781350

39: DHANMANI NAMASUDRA
 S/O TARUN NAMASUDRA
VILL-BARSIMULIA
 P.O.-ATHGHARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

40: BARNALI KALITA
W/O KARUN KALITA
VILL-DINGDINGI
                              Page No.# 7/15

P.O.-BALA
DIST-NALBARI
PIN-781339

41: BINITA BAISHYA
 S/O NIROD BAISHYA
VILL-MOROWA
 P.O.-MOROWA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781348

42: PRANITA MAZUMDAR
 S/O CHITTARANJAN MAZUMDAR
VILL-TARMATHA
 P.O.-ARIKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

43: NRIPEN NAMASUDRA
 S/O LT. CHALITA NAMASUDRA
VILL-BARSIMALA
 P.O.-ATHGHARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

44: CHANDMAHAMMAD ALI
 S/O LT. HARUD ALI
VILL-ARIKUCHI
 P.O.-ARIKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

45: TAPSER ALI
 S/O KUTUB ALI
VILL-TARMATHA
 P.O.-ARIKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

46: DIPUL DAS
 S/O KHAGARU RAM DAS
VILL-ARIKUCHI
 P.O.-ARIKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

47: FULAMA BAISHYA
W/O ABABI BAISHYA
                          Page No.# 8/15

VILL-MOROWA
P.O.-MOROWA
DIST-NALABRI
PIN-781348

48: ABHAY BAISHYA
 S/O LT. RAJAT BAISHYA
VILL-MOROWA
 P.O.-MOROWA
 DIST-NALABRI
 PIN-781348

49: PADUMI DAS
W/O NRIPEN DAS
VILL-ARANGMOW
 P.O.-ARANGMOW
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

50: MUKUT BAISHYA
 S/O AMRIT BAISHYA
VILL-MOROWA
 P.O.-MOROWA
 DIST-NALABRI
 PIN-781348

51: KANIKA BAISHYA
W/O RATNESWAR BAISHYA
VILL-MOROWA
 P.O.-MOROWA
 DIST-NALABRI
 PIN-781348

52: JUNU DAS
W/O JOGESH DAS
VILL-BARSIMULIA
 P.O.-ATHGARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

53: NURUN NESSA BEGUM
W/O MAJIB ALI
VILL-KAMARKUCHI
 P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

54: ABDUL AHMED
                           Page No.# 9/15

S/O KHAINUR AHMED
VILL-RAYMEDHA
P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
DIST-NALBARI
PIN-781347

55: GANGA MALAKAR
W/O LT. SANJOY MALAKAR
VILL-KAMARKUCHI
 P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
 DIST-NALABRI
 PIN-781347

56: PULKESH BEZBARUAH
VILL AND P.O.-ATHGHARIA
 P.S.-NALBARI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

57: DWIJEN CHAKRABARTY
 S/O PABIN CHARABARTY
VILL-BARKULHATI
 P.O.-KALAG
 DIST-NAPBARI
 PIN-781351

58: AMIR ALI
 S/O ASAD ALI
VILL-RANAKUCHI
 P.O.-KALAG
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

59: DWIPEN KALITA
 S/O GAJENDRA KALITA
VILL-BARSIMALA
 P.O.-ATHGHARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

60: CHANDI DAS
 S/O LT. NILO DAS
VILL-BIHDIA
 P.O.-KARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

61: DIPTI DEKA
                           Page No.# 10/15

W/O ABANI DAS
VILL-KARIA
P.O.-KARIA
DIST-NALBARI
PIN-781339

62: PRANAB JYOTI DAS
 S/O TARINI DAS
VILL-KARIA
 P.O.-KARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

63: MERIJAN BEGUM
 D/O LT. STURSH ALI
VILL-RAYMEDHA
 P.O.-KAMARKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347

64: MAHIBUR RAHMAN
 S/O LT. JAINUL ALI
VILL- 2 NO. LOHARKATHA
 P.O.-LOHARKATHA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781126

65: CHARUBALA BAISHYA
 D/O RAMANI BAISHYA
VILL-RANAKUCHI
 P.O.-KALAG
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

66: DINESH KALITA
 S/O JONOK CH. KALITA
VILL-SONKANI
 P.O.-BORBARI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

67: RUNUMA BEGUM
W/O SAMNUR ALI
VILL-KATALKUCHI (SATHA)
 P.O.-ATHGHARIA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781347
                             Page No.# 11/15

68: ANIMA DAS
W/O DILIP DAS
VILL-BHABANIPUR
 P.O.-ARIKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781339

69: PARBATI KAKATI
W/O DINESH CHANDRA KAKATI
VILL-BAGALMUR
 P.O.-KALAG
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

70: BHUPEN DEKA
 S/O MOHAN DEKA
VILL-NANIA
 P.O.-BARIDATARA
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

71: DIPUL DAS
 S/O HARICHARAN DAS
VILL-BARBARARA
 P.O.-SATMA
 DIST-NALABRI
 PIN-781350

72: NIRALA DAS
W/O BAPDHAN DAS
VILL-SONKANI
 P.O.-BARBARI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

73: MINATI BHUYAN
W/O BIPUL BHUYAN
VILL-KHUDRA KULHATI
 P.O.-KALAG
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781351

74: SONAFULI BEGUM
W/O RATIK ALI
VILL-2 NO. GOGHA
 P.O.-BALIKUCHI
 DIST-NALBARI
 PIN-781126
                                                                Page No.# 12/15


            75: PRADIP CHOUDHURY
             S/O LATE RABIN CHOUDHURY
            VILL-KATHABARKUCHI
             P.O.-MILANPUR
             DIST-NALBARI
             PIN-781126

            76: BUBUL KALITA
             S/O LT. KRISHNA KALITA
            VILL-BARKURIHA
             P.O.-BARKURIHA
             DIST-NALBARI
             PIN-78134

            VERSUS

            THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 5 ORS
            THROUGH THE CHIEF SECRETARY GOVT. OF ASSAM, GUWAHATI-6

            2:PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF THE GOVT. OF ASSAM
             P AND R.D DEPARTMENT
             DISPUR
             GUWAHATI-781006

            3:THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM
             FINANCE DEPARTMENT
             DISPUR
             GUWAHATI-6

            4:THE COMMISSIONER
             PANCHAYAT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
             JURIPAR
             PANJABARI
             GUWAHATI-781037

            5:THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
             NALBARI
             PIN-783101

            6:THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
             ZILA PARISHAD
             NALBARI
             PIN-78310

Advocate for the Petitioner   : MR. R P SARMAH

Advocate for the Respondent : GA, ASSAM
                                                                     Page No.# 13/15




                                BEFORE
                 HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVASHIS BARUAH

                                    ORDER

Date : 10.04.2023 Heard Mr. R.P. Sarma, the learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. Debasish Doley, the learned counsel for the petitioner. Mr. N. K. Debnath, the learned counsel appears on behalf of the P & RD Department, Mr. R. Dhar, the learned State Counsel appears on behalf of the State of Assam and Mr. R. Borpujari, the learned Standing Counsel appears for the Finance Department.

2. The case of the petitioners herein is that the petitioners were Panchayat Raj Institution members whose terms ended in the month of March, 2018 and they have not been paid their monthly remuneration or allowances to which they are entitled to by virtue of Article 243I of the Constitution as well as the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994 and the Rules framed therein under to receive the monthly remuneration and other allowances.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the case of the petitioners is squarely covered by the judgment and order dated 04.01.2023 passed by this Court in the case of Poli Nagbongshi & Others vs. the State of Assam & Others {WP(C) No.3662/2018} wherein this Court after taking into

account all the aspects of the matter had passed necessary directions to the respondent authorities which can be seen from paragraph Nos.39 to 42 of the said judgment.

4. The learned counsels appearing on behalf of the respondents have also submitted that the entitlement of the petitioners would be dependent upon the necessary verification to be carried out in terms with the directions passed in Page No.# 14/15

the said judgment.

5. Taking into account the same, this Court finds it relevant to quote paragraph No.39 to 42 of the said judgment dated 04.01.2023 as herein under:-

"39. Under such circumstances, this Court, therefore, directs the State of Assam, and more particularly, the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Panchayat and Rural Development Department to verify the claims of the petitioners as regards their respective entitlements only in so far as the quantum is concerned and upon verification, to make payment to the petitioners as per their entitlement. For the purpose of making payment, if there is requirement to take necessary concurrence from the other authorities like the Finance Department, the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Panchayat and Rural Development Department shall do the needful.

40. The Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, Finance Department shall also do the needful so that the entitlements of the petitioners are paid by according necessary approval and releasing funds. It is made clear that the directions passed herein are directions upon the State Government to pay dues to the petitioners in the batch of writ petitions. It shall be the collective responsibility of the State Government to see to it that the dues of the petitioners are released to them within the time stipulated herein under.

41. Taking into account the decision taken in the review meeting on 06.06.2021 by the Chief Minister of Assam, the Government of Assam would be at liberty to pay the entitlement to the petitioners at one go or in installments as per the administrative and financial convenience.

42. It is, however, made clear that the entire exercise has to be done by the State Government in its Departments to make payment to the petitioners within a period of 6 (six) months from the date copy of the instant judgment is served upon the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Panchayat and Rural development Department and the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Finance Department with their respective claims."

Page No.# 15/15

6. This Court, taking into account the respective contentions of the learned counsels for the parties disposes of the instant writ petition by granting the petitioners the same reliefs as have been enumerated in paragraph Nos.39 to 42 of the judgment in the case of Poli Nagbongshi (supra).

7. The petitioners are, therefore, directed to submit a certified copy of the instant order upon the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, P&RD Department as well as to the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Finance Department with their respective claims and the respondents upon making due verification as stated in paragraph Nos.39 to 42 of the judgment in the case of Poli Nagbongshi (supra) shall make payment to the petitioners within a period of 6 (six) months therefrom.

8. The petitioners are also directed to serve a certified copy of the judgment and order dated 04.01.2023 passed by this Court in the case of Poli Nagbongshi (supra) to the concerned respondent authorities.

JUDGE

Comparing Assistant