The Gauhati High Court rejected prayers in multiple writ petitions filed by Assam Rifles personnel. The court held that a prior Supreme Court decision mandates promotion from Havildar to Warrant Officer, making the petitioners' claim for direct promotion to Naib Subedar untenable.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
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GAHC010003532013
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : WP(C) 271/2013
1:S.B.RANA and 50 ORS. G/410357
2: G/410355 S B GURUNG
3: G/410407 H L SUBEDI
10: G/410490 B K ADHIKARI
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13: G/410891 C K AIMOL
14: G/410573 NARAYAN SINGH
15: G/410583 BALWANT SINGH
16: G/410560 L B LIMBU
18: G/410587 PREM SINGH
19: G/410640 M B KARKI
20: G/410713 R N TRIPATI
21: G/410720 G S RAWAT
22: G/410943 P POCHA SINGH
23: G/411690 P C ROY
26: G/410974 RAJENDRA PRASAD
27: G/410994 BIRENDRA SINGH
28: G/411005 D B CHHETRI
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29: G/410993 G B CHHETRI
30: G/410580 D S SAMANT
31: G/2116 R A YADAV
32: G/410955 BADAR SINGH
33: G/411078 BALAWANT SINGH
34: G/411080 S T RAJA
35: G/411513 K LAKHANDARI
36: G/411089 DEVENDRA PAL
37: G/411154 M S SHEKHAWAT
38: G/411043 D B KHATRI
39: G/411447 A K RAI
40: G/410466 KUSHI RAM
41: G/411725 D K THAPA
42: G/4110986 Z VAIPHEI
43: G/411092 S K SAHI
44: G/411097 TULSHIDHARAN
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45: G/411148 HARENDRA YADAV
46: G/411191 TH KHAIKHASAL
47: G/411151 N K SINGH
48: G/411046 MD B Z ANSARI
49: G/411463 L J C SINGH
50: G/411649 SHIV KUMAR DOGRA
51: G/411640 D ZEALING ALL THE PETITIONERS ARE PRESENTLY WORKING IN THE 4TH BATTALION
THE ASSAM RIFLES AS HAVILDAR DG C/O 99 APO PIN-932004
VERSUS
1:UNION OF INDIA and ORS.
REP. BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI, PIN- 110001.
2:THE DIRECTOR GENERAL ASSAM RIFLES MAHANIDESHALAYA THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL ASSAM RIFLES SHILLONG MEGHALAYA PIN- 793011.
3:THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL ASSAM RIFLES HQ. ASSAM AND ARUNACHAL RANGES 25 SECTOR JORHAT ASSAM C/O 99 APO PIN- 932552.
4:THE COMMANDANT 4TH BATTALION THE ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO PIN- 932004
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Advocate for the Petitioner : MR.G SINGH
Advocate for the Respondent : C.G.C.
Linked Case : WP(C) 1144/2013
1:G/75069L HAV/GD AMULYA KR. LAHON and 44 ORS R/O DIBRUGARH DEVELOPMENT AREA LANE -'B' P.O. NIRMALI GAON P.S. DIBRUGARH DIST. DIBRUGARH ASSAM PIN- 786003 PRESENTLY SERVIN GAND HOLDING THE RANK OF HAVILDAR DG WITH 41 ASSAM RIFLE HQ COMPANY C/O 99 APO AND PRESENTLY POSTED AT NO. 3 WORKSHOP ASSAM RIFLE JORHAT ASSAM.
2: G/340010L HAV/GD ABDUL RAB
3: G/2300819H HAV/GD BIR BAHADUR CHETRI
4: G/3200153W HAV/GD TULA RAM THAPA
5: G/83235H HAV/GD AJIT SINGH
6: G/3200167W HAV/GD JOSHPER K. MARA
7: G/104377W HAV/GD PROVAT HAZARIKA
8: G/2501320W HAV/GD IGNATIUS LAKRA
9: G/2701290N HAV/GD
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SHAMAL KUMAR RABHA
10: G/2301225A HAV/GD BISHNU BAHADUR CHETRI
11: G/2300937W HAV/GD KUNDAM SINGH RAWAT
12: G/94921W HAV/GD NRIPEN CHANDRA KALITA
13: G/2600706Y HAV/GD SHIV SINGH RANA
14: G/153544L HAV/GD LAL SINGH
15: G/57015F HAV/GD LAXMI NARAYAN THAKUR
16: G/2200654A HAV/GD MADHAB CHANDRA ROY
17: G/3200379F HAV/GD ANIL KUMAR SINGH
18: G/183312 HAV/GD JEEWAN CHANDRA JOSHI
19: G/163025W HAV/GD HARICH CHANDRA BHATT
20: G/192902F HAV/GD BAHADUR SINGH
21: G/172730W HAV/GD FAIZ AHMED KHAN
22: G/2600804Y HAV/GD MAHENDER SINGH KHATI
23: G/2400839L HAV/GD KANKAN MAZUMDAR
24: G/2002502N HAV/GD KISHAN SINGH
25: G/192751N HAV/GD
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MD. NAZIMUUDIN
26: G/3400111N HAV/GD BHARAT SINGH
27: G/2401040N HAV/GD RAMPAL SINGH
28: G/143458M HAV/GD BHASKAR YADAV
29: G/2900947Y HAV/GD KRISHNA BAHADUR CHETRI
30: G/2900944K HAV/GD THAKUR SINGH DHANIK
31: G/37712A HAV/GD MANOHAR RAM
32: G/114598W HAV/GD KAMLESH CHAND
33: G/75007L HAV/GD MAN SINGH LIMBU
34: G/113875K HAV/GD RAJU SUNAR
35: G/95165 HAV/GD UMESH CHANDRA HALOI
36: G/66075K HAV/GD SHANKAR SINGH SAMAT
37: G/2000703K HAV/GD SURESH CHAND
38: G/103870X HAV/GD LAL BAHADUR SUNAR
39: G/2401039 HAV/GD NIKHIL CHAND MAZUMDAR
40: G/114235M HAV/GD BHIM BAHADUR
41: G/2600791 HAV/GD
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RANJIT SINGH BHANDARI
42: G/2850778H HAV/GD KHUSHI PAL SINGH
43: G/65700W HAV/GD MEWALAL SHARMA 44: G/2102549N HAV/GD RAVINDRA NATH MISHRA
45: G/153475A HAV/GD RAMESH CHAND PRESENTLY SERVING AND HOLDING THE RANK OF HAVILDAR GD WITH 41 ASSAM RIFLE HQ COMPANY C/O 99 APO. VERSUS
1:THE UNION OF INDIA and 5 ORS REP. BY THE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS GOVT. OF INDIA SENA BHAVAN NEW DELHI- 110001.
2:THE DIRECTOR GENBERAL ASSAM RIFLE SHILLONG- 793011. 3:THE COMMANDANT 25 SECTOR ASSAM RIFLES JORHAT ASSAM PIN-
4:THE BRIGADIER PERSONNEL DIRECTORATE GENERAL ASSAM RIFLE SHILLONG- 793011.
5:THE CDR. 10 SECTOR ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR.D DOLEY Advocate for the Respondent :
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Linked Case : WP(C) 4842/2013 1:NO 56620 H. HAV/GD NAKUL SWAGIARY and 15 ORS. S/O LT. NAIKA SWAGIARY VILL. 3 NO. PULISUMANI P.O. GELAPUKHURI DIST- SONITPUR ASSAM 2: NO.411714F. HAV/GD VINOD KUMAR 3: NO.153289. HAV/GD PRAKASH SINGH 4: NO.3400105. HAV/GD N.C. BORO 5: NO. G/173069F. HAV/GD HARISH CHANDER SINGH 6: NO.G/134362H. HAV/GD KHANGSIAM BOU 7: NO.G/134075Y. HAV/GD SHIVJI RAM 8: NO.G/66410 W. HAV/GD NAR SINGH YADAV 9: NO.G/95132 HAV/GD RAMSHIS YADAV 10: NO.G/84202 K HAV/GD RAM BRIKSH YADAV 11: NO.G/2850849Y.HAV/GD B.H. YADAV 12: NO.3300096 HAV/GD SHIV RAJ RAM 13: NO.2002146 Y HAV/GD MD. NURUL ISLAM
14: NO.2500864 HAV/GD MADAN TIWARI
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15: NO.2701123 X HAV/GD SHYAM THAPA
16: NO.2002786 H HAV/GD TEJPAL SINGH ALL THE PETITIONERS WERE DISCHARGING THEIR DUTIES AS HAVILDARGD AR AND PRESENTLY SERVING AND HOLDING THE RANK OF WARRANT OFFICER GD WITH 41 ASSAM RIFLE HQ COMPANY C/O99 APO VERSUS
1:THE UNION OF INDIA and 5 ORS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS GOVT. OF INDIA SENA BHAVAN NEW DELHI-110001
2:THE DIRECTOR GENERAL ASSAM RIFLE SHILLONG-11
3:THE COMMANDANT 25 SECTOR ASSAM RIFLES JORHAT ASSAM RIFLES JORHAT ASSAM
4:THE BRIGADIER PERSONNEL DIRECTORATE GENERAL ASSAM RIFLE SHILLONG-793011
5:THE UNIT COMMANDANT 41 ASSAM RIFLE C/O99 APO
6:THE CDR 10TH SECTOR ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR.R P SARMAH Advocate for the Respondent : ASSTT.S.G.I.
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Linked Case : WP(C) 5593/2012 1:BHARAT KUMAR RAI and 42 ORS QUARTER COY HEAD BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 2: LAXMAN SINGH QUARTER-COY MT PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181 HQ COY 3: JAILISHAN PANDEY D COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 4: JAGAT SINGH B COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 5: DIBAKAR YADAV E COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 6: KIRTI RAM E COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 7: AKHILESHWER MISHRA HEAD QUARTER-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 8: DHANUSH DHARI YADAV QUARTER COY HEAD QUARTER-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM
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PIN- 796181.
9: SHAJI SAMUEL E COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 10: MAHAVIR SINGH HEAD QUARTER-COY MT PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 11: DEVENDRA SINGH C COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 12: SAMRUDDEN LASKAR HEAD QUARTER-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 13: GOBINDA KALITA E COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 14: MADAN SINGH F COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 15: ALOK DEBBARMAN E COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 16: DHRUWA NARAYAN HEAD QUARTER-COY BNHQ PLATOON
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14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 17: RAJENDRAN D HEAD QUARTER-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 18: CHANCHAL SINGH C COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 19: SHASHI PRASAD HEAD QUARTER-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 20: DIGER DEV JOSHI F-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 21: BRAJESH SINGH C COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 22: JAG BAHADUR GURUNG F-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCJJO MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 23: BIMAL KUMAR GAUTAM A COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 24: MANBIR SINGH F-COY BNHQ PLATOON
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14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCJJO MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 25: PRATAP CHAND F-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCJJO MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 26: K C BARMAN HEAD QUARTER COY MT PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. PERMANENT ADDRESS SON OF LALIT CH. BARMAN VIL- NANARA P.O. KARARA DIST. KAMRUP ASSAM. 27: SURENDRA KUMAR F-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 28: RAM BAHADUR CHETRI C-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 29: DIWAN SINGH A-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321. 30: DAMAR BAHADUR CHAND NO. 2 TRAINING BETALION ARTC and SCHOOL DIMAPUR NAGALAND PIN- 797115. 31: SHANKER SINGH A-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321
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32: RANJIT SINGH F-COY BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796321 33: TRILOK SINGH BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 34: JOGENDRA SINGH A-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 35: RAJESHWAR PRASAD E-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321
36: GANGA BAHADUR THAPA BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. 37: GOVIND SINGH D-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 38: VIJAY KUMAR A-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 39: GUNJA BAHADUR D-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM
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PIN- 796321
40: LAXMAN SINGH D-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321 41: ANAND SINGH C-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796321
42: CHIRAG MEDHI BNHQ PLATOON 14 ASSAM RIFLES KHABUNG C/O 99 APO DIST. CHAMPHAI MIZORAM PIN- 796181.
43: PREM SINGH B-COY 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO DIST. SERCHHIP MIZORAM PIN- 796181. VERSUS 1:THE UNION OF INDIA and ORS REP. BY THE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS GOVT. OF INDIA SENA BHAWAN NEW DELHI- 110001. 2:THE DIRECTOR GENERAL ASSAM RIFLES SHILLONG-793011. 3:THE BRIGADIER PERSONNEL DIRECTORATE GENERAL ASSAM RIFLES SHILLONG-793011. 4:THE UNIT COMMANDANT 14 ASSAM RIFLES C/O 99 APO.
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Advocate for the Petitioner : MR.D SUR Advocate for the Respondent : C.G.C.
BEFORE
HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ARUP KUMAR GOSWAMI
ORDER
Date : 08-04-2019
(A. S. Bopanna, C.J.)
Heard Mr. S. C. Keyal, learned Assistant Solicitor General of India, appearing for the respondents. The petitioners are not represented.
In all these writ petitions, the petitioners are before this court assailing the order dated 09.06.2011 and 08.09.2012, issued by the Director General of Assam Rifles. In that light, the petitioners are seeking that the respondent authorities be directed to introduce the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector in Assam Rifles by upgrading the post of Head Constable (Havildar) and to consider promotion of the petitioners to the post of Naib Subedar (GD).
Though contentions are urged in the writ petition in justification of the prayers made therein, when these writ petitions are taken up for consideration, the learned Assistant Solicitor General of India would bring to the notice of this court that the very issue had arisen before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 672 of 2019 in the case of Union of India and Ors vs. Krishna Kumar and Ors. In the said appeal, the order dated 10.12.2013, passed by the High Court of Manipur granting the benefits sought for by the petitioners therein was assailed. In the said civil appeal, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in the light of the legal position had taken into consideration the change in the rules relating to promotions in Assam Rifles and had held that once the structure of Assam Rifles has undertaken a change by granting the intermediate post of Warrant Officer, the persons holding the posts of Havildar would be considered for promotion to the posts of warrant officer.
If that be the position, promotion available from the post of Havildar is to the
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post of Warrant Officer and not to the post of Naib Subedar (GD) directly, as sought for by the petitioners herein. If that be the position, the decision rendered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 672 of 2019 would be applicable in these writ petitions as well. Hence, the prayers, as made in these writ petitions, are liable to be rejected, which is accordingly done.
The writ petitions stand disposed of in terms of the above.
JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE
Comparing Assistant
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the petitioners can be promoted directly to the post of Naib Subedar (GD) instead of the post of Warrant Officer.
Whether the Supreme Court decision in Civil Appeal No. 672 of 2019 regarding the structure of Assam Rifles is applicable to these writ petitions.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Civil Appeal No. 672 of 2019Explained¶164
1:S.B.RANA and 50 ORS.
UNION OF INDIA and ORS.
ARUP KUMAR GOSWAMI
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
