Page No.# 1/15 vs The State Of Assam And 10 Ors on 20 March, 2026

Author: Soumitra Saikia

Bench: Soumitra Saikia

                                                                   Page No.# 1/15

GAHC010056442026




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

                          Case No. : WP(C)/1629/2026

         RUPEN BISWA AND 52 ORS.
         S/O-LT. KALU BISWA, AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS, VILL-HATISAR FV, P.O-
         DEOSRI, DIST-CHIRANG, BTC, ASSAM, PIN-783375

         2: LIBLY BASUMATARY
          D/O-SUKURSHRI BASUMATARY
         AGED ABOUT-38YEARS
         VILL-NO.1 CHAPAGURI
          P.O-CHAPGURI
          DIST-CHIRANG
          BTC
         ASSAM
          PIN-783380

         3: JWNGSHRI BASUMATARY
          3.
         W/O-BIKASH BASUMATARY
         AGED ABOUT-40YEARS
         VILL-GWJWNPURI
          P.O-CHAPAGURI
          DIST-CHIRANG
          BTC
         ASSAM
          PIN-783380

         4: SANTOSH ISLARY
          S/O-YAKOB ISLARY
         AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
         VILL-HATISAR
          P.O-DEOSRI
          DIST-CHIRANG
          BTC
         ASSAM
          PIN-783375
                              Page No.# 2/15


5: MILION BASUMATARY
 S/O-LIREN BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-SALBARI
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

6: KUSUM NARZARY
 c/O-CHALENDRA NARZARY
AGED ABOUT-39YEARS
VILL-SUDEMPUR
 P.O-KACHUGAON
 DIST-KOKRAJHAR
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783350

7: DERHASAT GOYARY
 S/O-RIPEN GOYARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-SALBARI BHURPARA
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

8: EMANUYEL BASUMATARY
 S/O-LT. KHIREN BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38YEARS
VILL-SALBARI
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

9: AJOY BASUMATARY
 9.
 S/O-PARESH BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38YEARS
VILL-DEBADANGI
 P.O-DEOSRI
 DIST-CHIRANG
                              Page No.# 3/15

BTC
ASSAM
PIN-783375

10: MOLAKHI BASUMATARY
 D/O-JONAHU BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38YEARS
VILL-SALGURI
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

11: SAMUYEL BASUMATARY
 S/O-LT. KHIREN BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38YEARS
 VILL-SALBARI
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

12: HABIL BARA
 S/O-LT.SHARAI BARA
AGEDA ABOUT-39 YEARS
VILL-HATISAR F.V.
 P.O-DEOSRI
 DIST- CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

13: JANATAN CHETRY
 S/O-KRISHNA CHETRY
AGED ABOUT- 38 YEARS
VILL-HATISAR F.V.
 P.O- DEOSRI
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

14: SATISH ISLARY
 S/O-YAKUB ISLARY
AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS
VILL-HATISAR F.V.
                              Page No.# 4/15

P.O-DEOSRI
DIST-CHIRANG
BTC
ASSAM
PIN-783375

15: SANJIT BASUMATARY
 S/O-PANIRAM BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-43YEARS
VILL-PACHIM SALBARI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-7873375

16: SONALI BASUMATARY
 D/O-MANGAL CH. BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-PACHIM SALBARI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

17: KRISTINA BASUMATARY
W/O-ARJUN BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-SALBARI
 F.V
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

18: PRABHAT BASUMATARY
 S/O-BAREN BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS
VILL-SALBARI
 F.V.
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375
                             Page No.# 5/15

19: ANANTA ISLARY
 S/O-RAHEN ISLRY
AGED ABOUT-38YEARS
VILL-DEBADANGI
 P.O-DEOSRI
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

20: KEROL MUCHAHARY
 S/O-LT. BANKIM MOCHAHARY
AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS
VILL-PARBATJHORA
 P.O-KOILAMOILA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783393

21: NANDIP NARZARY
 S/O-CHINTANAN NARZARY
AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS
VILL-DWIMUGURI
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

22: BIRAJ BASUMATARY
 S/O-SEKAR BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS
VILL-GWJWNPURI
 NO.1 CHAPAGURI
 P.O-CHAPAGURI
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783380

23: MANIN BASUMATARY
 S/O-HARI BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-MANDARGURI
 P.O-MALIVITA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
                                  Page No.# 6/15

ASSAM
PIN-783393

24: DAOHARU BRAHMA
 C/O-BUTHAB BRAHMA
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-NO.1 KACHUBEEL
 P.O-PANBARI
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783391

25: SWRANGSAT MUCHAHARY
 S/O-LT. SUNIRAM MUCHAHARY
AGED ABOUT-38YEARS
VILL-KALVARTJHORA
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

26: BIRHANG MOSHAHARY
 S/O-PREDIK MOSHAHARY
AGED ABOUT-38YEARS
VILL-NO.1 CHAPAGURI
 P.O-CHAPAGURI
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783380

27: JIRIMIAH ISLARY
 S/O-LT. SIMAN ISLARY
AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS
VILL-BAMUNGAON
 P.O-DUTTAPUR F.V.
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783373

28: ANSUMA BASUMATARY
 S/O-SRI CHAKRADHAR BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS
VILL-BAIRAJHORA
 P.O-DUTTAPUR
                                              Page No.# 7/15

DIST-CHIRANG
BTC
ASSAM
PIN-783373

29: ANIN BASUMATARY
 S/O-HARI BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-MANDARGURI
 P.O-MALIVITA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783393

30: BIRJON NARZARY
 S/O-LT. KADRA NARZARY AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS
VILL-GANDWIBARI
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

31: PRANJOY MUSHAHARY
 S/O-HOKE MUSHAHARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-PASCHIM SALBARI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

32: LACHIT NARZARY
 S/O-LT. BINOY NARZARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-NO.1 CHEKADANI
 P.O-BAIRALI
 DIST-KOKRAJHARBTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783350

33: PRAKASH NARZARY
 S/O-THAJEN NARZARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-SALGURI
 P.O-RANIPUR
                              Page No.# 8/15

DIST-CHIRANG
BTC
ASSAM
PIN-783375

34: RAJA MUSHAHARY
 S/O-SABIN MUSHAHRY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-BHADRANPUR
 P.O-BISHMURI
 DIST-KOKRAJHAR
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783370

35: FAKHAN BRAHMA
 S/O-PHUKHA BRAHMA
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-MESTABARI
 P.O-PATGAON
 DIST-KOKRAJHAR
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783346

36: PHAILAO DAIMARY
 S/O-SRI AMARSING DAIMARY
AGED ABOUT-46 YEARS
VILL-BANDUGURI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

37: TOPA DAIMARY
 S/O-LATE AMARSING DAIMARY
AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS
VILL-BANDUGURI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANGBTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

38: DEWRAJ MUSHAHARY
 38.
 S/O-SRI SATYA MUSHAHRI
AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS
                                 Page No.# 9/15

VILL-GYATIGAON
P.O-BERANGABARI
DIST-CHIRANG
BTC
ASSAM
PIN-781315

39: DWITUN BASUMATARY
 S/O-SRI KANTESWAR BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-43YEARS
VILL- BANDUGURI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

40: BENEDRA BASUMATARY
 S/O-RABINDRA BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS
VILL-BANDUGURI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

41: CHANDALAL NARZARY
 S/O-SANKAR NARZARY
AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS
VILL-KATRIBARI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

42: LAKHIKANTA DAIMARY
 42.
 S/O-PERNA DAIMARY
AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS
VILL-HATIDHURA F.V.
 P.O-KUNGRING
 DIST- CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375
                             Page No.# 10/15

43: ANDIRA BASUMATARY
 D/O-GIRISH BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS
VILL-NO.2 KASHIKOTRA
 P.O-KASHIKOTRA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783373

44: ARGA NARZARY
 S/O-ANTENG NARZARY
AGED ABOUT-43 YEARS
VILL-DANDUGURI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

45: DWMWI BASUMATARY
W/O-TRINATH BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL GENDARGAON
 P.O-KASHIKOTRA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783373

46: BIRASH BASUMATARY
 S/O-LT. SUNIL BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS
VILL-BORDANGI
 P.O-SHANTIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

47: PUSHPA MUSHAHRY
W/O-SAMESH DAIMARY
AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS
VILL-BANDUGURI
 P.O-RUNIKHATA
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
                          Page No.# 11/15

PIN-783375

48: HELEMEN NARZARY
 S/O-LT. GOJEN NARZARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-BESORBARI
 P.O-JOYPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783393

49: SURJON NARZARY
 S/O-SAMARSING NARZARY
AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS
VILL-BESORBARI
 P.O-OUGURI
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783394

50: SINTAMONI ISWARY
 50.
 C/O-RENJEN ISWARY
AGED ABOUT- 38 YEARS
VILL-NO.2 BURIJHAR
 P.O-TUKRAJHAR
 DIST-RUNIKHATA
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783394

51: SAFIRA BORGOYARY
 C/O-NIKEL BORGOYARY
AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS
VILL-DWIMUGURI
 P.O-RANIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783375

52: SUSANTO ISWARY
 52.
 S/O-RENJEN ISWARY
AGED ABOUT-46 YEARS
VILL-NO.2 BHURIJHAR
                                                   Page No.# 12/15

P.O-TUKRAJHAR
DIST-CHIRANG
BTC
ASSAM
PIN-783394

53: RINGKHANG BASUMATARY
 C/O-LONGKESWAR BASUMATARY
AGED ABOUT-46 YEARS
VILL-NO.1 KUSUNGDWISA
 P.O-SHANTIPUR
 DIST-CHIRANG
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-78337

VERSUS

THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 10 ORS.
REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY,
ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, ASSAM, GUWAHATI-
6.

2:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST
ASSAM
 REHABARI
 GUWAHATI-8.

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

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

5:THE SECRETARY
 FOREST DEPARTMENT
 BTC
ASSAM
 PIN-783370

6:THE COUNCIL HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREST
 BTC
 KOKRAJHAR
                                                                       Page No.# 13/15

             ASSAM
             PIN-783370

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

            8:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER
             CHIRANG DIVISION
             KAJALGAON
             CHIRANG BTR ASSAM
             PIN783385

            9:FOREST DEPOT OFFICER
             BASUGAON DEPOT OFFICER
             PIN-783372

            10:FOREST RANGE OFFICER

             RUNIKHATA RANGE
             RUNIKHATA
             PIN-783375

            11:FOREST RANGE OFFICER
             SIDLI RANGE RUNIKHATA
             PIN-78339

Advocate for the Petitioner   : MR. A BORO, MS TOSHISENLA,I KUMARI,MR H P GUWALA

Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, SC, FINANCE,SC, BTC




                                    BEFORE
                     HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SOUMITRA SAIKIA

                                        ORDER

20.03.2026

Heard Mr. A. Boro, learned counsel for the petitioner petitioners. Also heard Ms. N. Choudhury, learned Standing Counsel, BTC.

Page No.# 14/15

2. Having regard to the nature of the case projected by the petitioners, the writ petition is taken up for disposal with the consent of the parties.

3. It is the case of the petitioner that due to shortages of manpower between the period of 2006-2007, they have been engaged as casual workers for protection of reserve forest and its forest resources under Chirang Division, Kajalgaon in the Forest Department, BTC. Even since their engagement, they have been working as such till date but have been paid only a meager sum of fixed wages. It is the case of the petitioners that they are entitled to get the benefit of minimum pay scale in terms of the decision render by a Division Bench of this Court in State of Assam Vs Shri. Upen Das reported in 2020 (5) GLT 605.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that since there is no dispute, a direction may be issued to the respondent authorities to pay the petitioner a minimum scale of pay in terms of Upen Das (supra).

5. Ms. N. Choudhury, learned Standing Counsel, BTC on the other hand submits that the petitioners are only engaged on casual basis and since it is not a substantive appointment, there is no question of granting them the pay scale as claimed by them. It may however, be seen that the direction of a Division Bench of this Court in Upen Das (supra) all such Muster Roll Workers, Worked Charge Workers and similarly placed employees working since the last more than 10 years and not in a sanctioned post should be granted the minimum of pay scale w.e.f. 01.08.2017. Admittedly, the petitioners in the present case are not working against a sanctioned post but are engaged as casual workers since Page No.# 15/15

2006-2007 which has not been disputed by the respondents.

6. Considering the same, the respondent authorities are directed to grant the petitioners the benefit of minimum pay scale in terms of Upen Das (supra). Before granting them such benefit, the respondents will be at liberty to make necessary verifications as may be required. The petitioners be afforded the minimum pay scale as directed above as expeditiously as possible and preferably within a period of 3 (three) months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.

7. Writ petition accordingly stands disposed of.

JUDGE

Comparing Assistant