Page No.# 1/15 vs The State Of Assam on 4 February, 2026

                                                           Page No.# 1/15

GAHC010087492025




                                                      2026:GAU-AS:1403

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

                       Case No. : WP(C)/2243/2025

         SUNIL MUCHAHARY
         S/O-CHABIN MUCHAHARY, VILL-KHAMARDWISA, P.O- KHAMARDWISA,
         P.S.-SIMLA, DIST- BAKSA, PIN-781330.

         2: BISHNU BASUMATARY
          S/O-BIBUL BASUMATARY
         VILL-KHAMARDWISA
          P.O-KHAMARDWISA
          DIST- BAKSA
          PIN-781330.

         3: GUNIN BASUMATARY
          S/O-GWSWM BASUMATARY
         VILL-OXIGURI GAON
          P.O-KAHITAMA
          DIST- BAKSA
          PIN-781315.

         4: SAMTAM NARZARY
          S/O- RUBIRAM NARZARY
         VILL-KHAMARDWISA
          DIST- BAKSA
          PIN-781330

         5: TULEN KHERKATARY
          S/O- MAINA KHERKATARY
         VILL- DONGPAR
          P.O- BARMAJARA
          DIST- BAKSA
          PIN-781318

         6: RANJIT MUCHAHARY
          S/O- GALAK MUCHAHARY
         VILL- DONGPAR
                                   Page No.# 2/15

P.O-BARMAJARA
DIST- BAKSA
PIN-781318

7: BINOD SWARGIARY
 S/O-BIHU RAM SWARGIARY
VILL-LABDANGURI
 P.O- LABDANGURI
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781315

8: RYDIL NARZARY
 S/O-LATE DANDHI CHARAN NARZARY
VILL- HAPACHARA
 P.O- GOLAGAON
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781327

9: GANDHI BASUMATARY
 S/O-BISHNU RAM BASUMATARY
VILL-OXIGURI
 P.O-KAHITAMA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781315

10: MAICHAN SARKAR
VILL-DOILLONG NO.2
 P.O- BHOTAGAON
 DIST- CHIRANG

11: RANJAN GAYARY
 S/O- CHAKRADHAR GAYARY
 VILL-DUMBRUGURI
 P.O-GOLAGAON. DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781327

12: MARSEL NARZARY
 S/O-FAGDAL NARZARY
VILL-DANGARIGAON
 P.O- GOLAGAON
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781327

13: RINKU BARMAN
W/O- JAGADISH BARMAN
VILL-NALBARI TOWN WARD NO.9
 P.O- NALBARI
 DIST-NALBARI
                            Page No.# 3/15

PIN-781335

14: BUREN BASUMATARY
 S/O-BANESWAR BASUMATARY
VILL- NO.2 THURIBARI
 P.O-BETNAPARA
 DIT-CHIRANG
 PIN-783390

15: JWMWSRI BASUMATARY
W/O-MAHINDRA BASUMATARY
VILL-KHAMARDWISA
 P.O-KHAMARDWISA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781330

16: BISHNU TALUKDAR
 S/O- PARES TALUKDAR
VILL- DOMANI
 P.O- KHAIRABARI
 DIST- BARPETA
 PIN-781315

17: BUBULI SWARGIARY
W/O-BOMAL SWARGIARY
VILL-NO.1 KOKLABARI
 P.O- KOKLABARI
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781330

18: GAOBRA MOCHAHARY
 S/O-BHUMIDHAR MOCHAHARY
VILL- DUNGBRUGURI
 P.O- GOLAGAON
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781327

19: REZZAK ALI
 S/O-MD. EDRISH ALI
VILL-KAIJAMATI
 P.O- MAINAMATA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781315

20: SUNIRAM BASUMATARY
 S/O-KHANARAM BASUMATARY
VILL- OXIGURI
 P.O- KAHITAMA
                            Page No.# 4/15

DIST-BAKSA
PIN-781315

21: SAMAR OWARY
 S/O-KHAMESWAR OWARY
VILL-NO.2 THAISUBARI
 P.O- PANBARI
 DIST- CHIRANG
 PIN-783391

22: SACHIN BASUMATARY
 S/O-GOLO BASUMATARY
VILL- SILBARI
 P.O- BOROBAZAR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 PIN-783393

23: SANSUMA BASUMATARY
 S/O- MANO BASUMATARY
VILL- LABDANGURI
 P.O- LABDANGURI
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781315

24: CHILON BASUMATARY
 S/O- BISHNU BASUMATARY
VILL- BARGAON
 P.O- BARMAJARA
 DIST- BAKSA
 PIN-781318

25: BIJOY BASUMATARY

S/O-PURNA BASUMATARY
VILL- SANAPUR
P.O-PANBARI
DIST- CHIRANG
PIN-783391.

26: DRUBO BASUMATARY
 S/O- ARBINDA BASUMATARY
VILL- JANAGAON
 P.O- TITAGURI
 DIST-KOKRAJHAR
 PIN-783370

27: KANDARPA NATH
 S/O- JANNEJAY NATH
                              Page No.# 5/15

VILL- NO.1 BARPATHAR
P.O-BARPATHAR
DIST- CHIRANG
PIN-783391

28: RINGKHANGSAR BARO
 S/O- LT. BUDHBAR BARO
VILL- TIMBARMUR
 P.O-KHAMARDWISA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781330.

29: PRIYA DEVI BRAHMA
 D/O-HARISH CHANDRA BRAHMA
VILL- SWARANGPURI
 P.O- TITAGURI PT.1
 DIST- KOKRAJHAR
 PIN-783370.

30: KHANDRA BASUMATARY
 S/O-LT. LISHU BASUMATARY
VILL- BHALMANUHAR BITHA
 P.O- GOLAGAON
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781327.

31: JWNGMA RANI BRAHMA
 D/O-CHAKRASING BRAHMA
VILL-SAMTHAIBARI
 P.O- KOKRAJHAR
 DIST-KOKRAJHAR
 PIN-783370

32: SAYAN KR SINGHA
 S/O-KHITIRANJAN SINGHA
VILL-NO.2 BISHNUPUR
 P.O- BOTHAGAON
 DIST- CHIRANG
 PIN-783390.

33: LAKHA BARO
 S/O- BABURAM BARO
VILL- NABADHIRA
 P.O-BARGHAGRA
 DIST- BAKSA
 PIN-781330

34: FWILAO BASUMATARY
                           Page No.# 6/15

S/O-RUPNATH BASUMATARY
VILL- SILBARI
P.O-BOROBAZAR
DIST- CHIRANG
PIN-783390.

35: SANJAY GOYARY
 S/O- RAJEN GOYARY
VILL- KHAMARDWISA
 P.O- KHAMARDWISA
 DIST- BAKSA
 PIN-781330.

36: SWAMKHAR OWARY
 S/O-RAMUNA OWARY
VILL- THAISUBARI
 P.O- PANBARI
 DIST- CHIRANG
 PIN-783391

37: JAGEN BARO
 S/O-THALI BARO
VILL-THEMBARMUR
 P.O- KHAMARDWISA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781330.

38: BIRDAO BRAHMA
 S/O- KARENDRA BRAHMA
VILL- DOLOGAON
 P.O- HALTUGAON
 DIST- KOKRAJHAR
 PIN-783391.

39: MATEN GAYARY
 S/O-CHITARANJAN GAYARY
VILL-DHADHARA
 P.O- KHAMARDWISA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781330

40: KINGRAJ BASUMATARY
 S/O-RAHEN BASUMATARY
VILL-LATHIPARA
 P.O-BAGARGAON
 DIST-CHIRANG
 PIN-783390
                             Page No.# 7/15

41: FUNGSWRANG BASUMATARY
 S/O-CHAKEN BASUMATARY
VILL- BALISILA
 P.O- ROWTA CHARIALI
 DIST- UDALGURI
 PIN-784508

42: JWNGSAR DAIMARY
 S/O-NAGESWAR DAIMARY
VILL- AKHRA
 P.O- BETBARI
 DIST- BAKSA
 PIN-781327

43: RATUL KR BRAHMA
 S/O- NISTA RAM BRAHMA
VILL- BANUGAON
 P.O-PUTHIMARI
 DIST- KOKRAJHAR
 PIN-783347

44: BIJIT BARO
 S/O-DHANARAM BARO
VILL-SUPARIGURI (DADARA)
 P.O- SULIAKATA
 DIST- BARPETA
 PIN-781317.

45: SWMLA BARO
 S/O- HALICHARAN BARO
VILL- NABADIHIRA
 P.O-BARGHAGRA
 DIST- BAKSA
 PIN-781330

46: NWJWR DAIMARY
 S/O-ATUL CHANDRA DAIMARY
VILL- BANARGAON
 P.O-BANARGAON
 DIST- KOKRAJHAR
 PIN-783347.

47: JEMS BASUMATARY
 S/O- BIROLA BASUMATARY
VILL- RANGAPANI
 P.O- KHAMARDWISA
 DIST- BAKAS
 PIN-781330.
                             Page No.# 8/15


48: KAMAL BASUMATARY
 S/O-MANESWAR BASUMATARY
VILL-UTTAR BURIKHAMAR
 P/O- SULIAKATA
 DIST- BARPETA
 PIN-781317

49: MILAN BASUMATARY
 S/O-MONO BASUMATAYR
VILL-GARUMARA
 P.O-KHAMARDWISA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781330

50: ALONGBAR BRAHMA

S/O-SAMARSING BRAHMA
VILL-NAKARGAON
P.O- PUTIMARI
DIST- KOKRAJHAR
PIN-783347

51: PURNIMA PATHAK
 D/O- NIRMAL PATHAK
VILL-PATILADAHA
 P/O-PATILADAHA
 DIST-BONGAIGAON
 PIN-783391.

52: JAGADISH BARO
 S/O- UMESH BARO
VILL-CHAMTHAIBARI
 P./O- KAHITAMA
 DIST- BAKSA
 PIN-781315.

53: JITEN BRAHMA
 S/O-GAJEN BRAHMA
VILL- BHAGPUR (NAKTIPARA)
 P.O- BARMA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781346.

54: PRADIP KR KARKI

S/O- BHOTO KARKI
VILL-NO.1 BAULAJHAR
                              Page No.# 9/15

P.O- PANBARI
DIST-CHIRANG
PIN-783391.

55: BHASKARJIT BRAHMA
 S/O-HARESH CHANDRA BRAHMA
VILL-SWRANGPURI
 P./O-TITAGURI PT.1
 DIST- KOKRAJHAR
 PIN-783370.

56: TEMPO RAMCHIARY
 S/O-MANAGAL RAMCHIARY
VILL- BHAGPUR (NAKTIPARA)
 P.O- BARMA
 DIST- BAKSA
 PIN-781330.

57: BIRAJ BRAHMA
 S/O-SHYAM CHARAN BRAHMA
VILL- NABADIHIRA
 P.O- BARKHAGRA
 DIST- BAKSA
 PIN-783383.

58: TULARAM BRAHMA
 S/O-AVINASH BRAHMA
VILL- SUDEMPURI
 P.O- KOKRAJHAR
 DIST-KOKRAJHAR
 PIN-783370.

59: SOMILA BASUMATARY
 D/O- TANGARAM BASUMATARY
VILL-LOWER PARA
 P.O- PANBARI
 DIST-CHIRANG
 PIN-783391.

60: ANANDA MOCHAHARY

S/O- BALEN MOCHAHARY
VILL- JHARGAON
P.O- GOLAGAON
DIST- BAKSA
PIN-781327.

61: BHADRESWAR MEDHI
                                                    Page No.# 10/15

S/O-SHYAM CHARAN MEDHI
VILL-CHAMTHAIBARI
P.O-KAHITAMA
DIST- BAKSA
PIN-781315

62: MAHAN GAYARY
 S/O- LUDRESWAR GAYARY
VILL-HATIZAN
 P.O- KHAMARDWISA
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781330

63: RAJANI KANTA BRAHMA
 S/O-KHAKEN BRAHMA
VILL-NO.1 KACHUBIL
 P.O- PANBARI
 DIST- CHIRNAG
 PIN-783391

64: NAYANMANI PATHAK
 S/O-RAMESWAR PATHAK
VILL- ROHA
 P.O-CHAKCHAKA
 DIST- BARPETA
 PIN-781317.

65: DIGANTA SWARGIYARY
 S/O-BINDU CHARAN
VILL-LABDANGURI GAON
 P.O-LABDANGURI
 DIST-BAKSA
 PIN-781315

VERSUS

THE STATE OF ASSAM
REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY,
ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, ASSAM, GUWAHATI-
6.

2:THE JOINT SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM
ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT
 DISPUR
ASSAM
 GUWAHATI-6.

3:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST
                                                                      Page No.# 11/15

             ASSAM
             REHABARI
             GUWAHATI-8.

            4:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF
            ASSAM FINANCE DEPARTMENT
             DISPUR
             GUWAHATI-6.

            5:THE BODOLAND TERRITORIAL COUNCIL (BTC)
             REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
             KOKRAJHAR
            ASSAM
             PIN-783370

            6:THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST
             BTC
             KOKRAJHAR
            ASSAM
             PIN-783370

            7:ADDL PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST CUM COUNCIL
            HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT
             FOREST
             BTC
             KOKRAJHAR
             PIN-783370

            8:THE FIELD DIRECTOR
             MANAS TIGER RESERVE FOREST BARPETA ROAD
            ASSAM
             PIN-781315

            9:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER
             BAKSA
             MUSHALPUR BTC
            ASSAM
             PIN-781372

            10:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER
             BHUYANPARA RANGE
             BAKSA
             BTC
            ASSAM
             PIN-78338

Advocate for the Petitioner   : MR. A BORO, MS D MAHANTA,MR H P GUWALA,MS N
NEWME
                                                                            Page No.# 12/15


Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, MS. R. GOGOI, (R-2,3,8), SC, FOREST,MR. A.

CHALIHA, (R-4), SC, FINANCE,MR. P. NAYAK, (R-5,6,7,9,10), SC, BTC

BEFORE

Hon'ble MR. JUSTICE KARDAK ETE Advocates for the petitioners : Mr. A. Boro

Advocates for the respondents : Mr. D. Gogoi, SC-Forest Mr. A. Chaliha, SC-Finance Mr. NR Sarma, SC-BTC

Date on which judgment is reserved : 04.02.2026 Date of pronouncement of judgment : 04.02.2026

Whether the pronouncement is of the operative part of the judgment? : NA

Whether the full judgment has been pronounced? : Yes

Judgment & Order (Oral)

Heard Mr. A. Boro, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. D. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department for the respondent nos. 1, 2 & 3; Mr. A. Chaliha, learned Standing Counsel, Finance Department for the respondent no. 4 and Mr. NR Sarma, learned Standing Counsel, BTC for the respondent nos. 5 to 10.

2. The grievance raised in this writ petition is for a direction to the respondent authorities to provide the minimum pay scale in terms of the judgment and order passed by this Court in the case of State of Assam Vs. Upen Das reported in 2020 (5) GLT 605 and the Government Notification Page No.# 13/15

dated 08.03.2019.

3. The petitioners, 65 in numbers, are the Members of an NGO, namely, Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society of Khamardwisa, Lwkhibazar in the district of Baksa, a registered Society registered under the provisions of the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

4. It is the case of the petitioners that they have been engaged as a Service Provider / Casual Worker for protection of Forest & Wildlife in different ranges from 2003 to 2007 under Manas Tiger Reserved Forest in the district of Baksa due to shortage of man power in the Department and the petitioners are dedicatedly rendering their services since their appointments on a meager wages.

5. It is the contention of the petitioners that the BTC Authorities has considered for providing the minimum pay scales to some of the similarly situated Service Provider / Casual Worker while the cases of the petitioners has been left out, which resulted in deprivation of the petitioner to receive the minimum pay scale.

6. Mr. Boro, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are entitled to get the benefit of minimum pay scale in terms of the judgment and order passed by this Court in the case of Upen Das (supra) and Government Notification dated 08.03.2019. He submits that there is no dispute as regards the engagement of the petitioners as they have been rendering their services continuously since their engagements till date with a meager wages and similarly situated persons have been granted minimum scale of pay in terms of the direction passed in the case of Upen Das (supra). He, therefore, submits that the respondents may be directed to provide the minimum scale of pay to Page No.# 14/15

the petitioners in terms of the judgment and order passed in the case of Upen Das (supra) and Government Notification dated 08.03.2019.

7. Mr. Sarma, learned Standing Counsel, BTC, submits that the petitioners were only engaged as a Service Provider on a temporary basis but not on a substantive vacancies nor any selection process was followed. He submits that since the petitioners were appointed as Service Provider without following the due process of law nor on substantive vacancies, they are not entitled to minimum scale of pay. However, he submits that in view of the direction of this Court in the case of Upen Das (supra), if the petitioners are working continuously for more than 10 years, even though not in a sanctioned post, the authorities may be directed to verify and grant the benefit of minimum scale of pay in accordance with law.

8. Having considered that there is no dispute as regards the engagement of the petitioners and their continuation in services as Service Provider / Casual Worker for protection of Forest & Wildlife in different ranges under Manas Tiger Reserved Forest in the district of Baksa and considering the judgment and order of this Court in the case of Upen Das (supra) as well as the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of The State of Punjab & Ors. Vs. Jagjit Singh & Ors. reported in (2017) 1 SCC 148, I am of the view that the petitioners appear to be entitled to be provided minimum scale of pay as they have been engaged by the authorities and allowed to continue as a Service Provider / Casual Worker for protection of Forest & Wildlife in different ranges under Manas Tiger Reserved Forest since their initial engagement in the year 2003-2007. Thus, it would be appropriate to direct the respondent authorities to verify as to whether the petitioners have been engaged and allowed to continue in the their services as Service Provider / Casual Worker and if found engaged Page No.# 15/15

and continued to serve in such capacities, the respondent authorities would consider granting the benefit of minimum scale of pay to the petitioners in terms of the law laid down in the cases of Upen Das (supra) as well as Jagjit Singh (supra). It is ordered accordingly.

9. The aforesaid exercise, as directed hereinabove, be completed within a period of 4(four) months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.

10. The writ petition accordingly stands disposed of.

JUDGE

Comparing Assistant