Disposed

Anjan Jyoti Das and 53 Ors. v. the State of Assam and 26 Ors.

Gauhati HC17 Mar 2023WP(C)/1469/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioners exceeding the age limit for Sericulture Demonstrator recruited by Assam sought condonation. The court directed the Director to consider their representations on merit and allowed provisional applications while awaiting the outcome.

What did the court decide?

Respondent No. 2 directed to consider representations for condonation of age limit on merit; petitioners permitted to apply provisionally under the advertisement.

Anjan Jyoti Das and 53 Ors. Vs the State of Assam and… — Service and Employment | Gauhati HC (2023)

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GAHC010054542023

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

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Case No. : WP(C)/1469/2023

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ANJAN JYOTI DAS AND 53 ORS S/O- CHANDRA KANTA DAS, VILL- BARKUCHI NIZESWARY DOWN, P.S.- PALASHBARI, DIST- KAMRUP, P.O.- MIRZA, PIN- 781101.

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2: SHARBAL KHAN S/O LATE MONGAL KHAN VILL-RANGIA NADIR PAR P.S.-SARTHEBARI P.O.- BAGODI DIST.- BARPETA PIN- 781311.

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3: MANALISHA DOLOI W/O NARAYAN DEKA VILL-1 NO. RABINGAON KENDUBAM BAGISHA P.O.- KHETRI P.S.- KHETRI KAMRUP (M) PIN- 782403.

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4: MD. SHAHIDUR RAHMAN S/O SAFIOR RAHMAN VILL - TIAMARI PT - II P.O. - TIAMARI P.S. - GAURIPUR DIST. - DHUBRI. PIN- 783331.

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5: DIPUL DEKA

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S/O CHANDRA KANTA DEKA VILL AND P.O.- NIZ NAMATI P.S.- TIHU DIST. - NALBARI

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PIN- 781355.

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6: MD. SIDDIQUE ALI KHAN S/O LATE ALEP KHAN VILL AND P.O. - JAHUR PAM P.S. AND DIST- BARPETA PIN- 781314. 7: ALTAF HUSSAIN LASKAR S/O NISAR ALI LASKAR VILL-KAPNARPAR P.S.-ALGAPUR DIST.-HAILAKANDI PIN- 788150 8: NABAJIT DUWARIA S/O TUNIRAM DUWARIA VILL-MOHKINA GAON P.S.-GARMUR DIST. - GARMUR PIN- 785104. 9: PRATIMA GOGOI W/O BIPUL CHUTIA VILL - PUNJAN PATH (DEOLIAKHAT) P.S. - SIVASAGAR DIST- SIVASAGAR PIN- 785640. 10: RANJU SAIKIA D/O LATE THAGI SAIKIA VILL - TEOK RAJABARI P.O. - TEOK DIST. - JORHAT PIN- 785112. 11: BIRINCHI MEDHI S/O DHENURAM MEDHI VILL- KARHALGAON NO. 2 P.S.- KAMALABARI P.O.- DHAKIRPAT SATRA DIST.- MAJULI PIN- 785106. 12: ABDUR RAHIM SARKAR S/O LATE FOYJAR RAHMAN SARKAR VILL-KATANGA SATDUBI PART-II P.O.-PATAKAT DIST - SOUTH SALMARA MANKACHAR PIN-783127.

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13: GAYATRI BHUYAN W/O SATYAJIT SAIKIA VILL AND P.O. - BHATIAPAR DIST- SIVASAGAR PIN- 785640. 14: NEEL KAMAL SAIKIA S/O SRI SUREN SAIKIA VILL- MELENG BORGURI P.O.-CHOWKHAT DIST- JORHAT PIN-785101. 15: SIMANTA GOGOI S/O RUPESWAR GOGOI VILL DOPOLAR KUKRACHOWA P.O. - DOPDAR DIST- SIVASAGAR PIN-785640. 16: HEMANTA KHANIKAR S/O LATE KAMESWAR KHANIKAR VILL AND P.O. - CHARING CHAMUA KHANIKAR P.S.-GAURISAGAR DIST- SIVASAGAR PIN-785664. 17: MD. TAUFIQUDDIN AHMED S/O LATE BADARUDDIN AHMED VILL - DOPDAR URIABOSTI DIST- SIVASAGAR PIN-785640. 18: DIP KUMAR DAS S/O LATE GIRINDRA CHANDRA DAS VILL - BAMUNPARA DIST- GOALPARA PIN- 783125. 19: SRI RAMEN BORA S/O DEBEN BORA VILL-2 NO. CHAULKORAGAON P.O. AKHOIPHUTIA DIST- SIVASAGAR PIN-785640. 20: PRABIN DAS S/O BULU RAM DAS VILL- SARULAH P.O. - SRIHAT P.S.-SUALKUCHI

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DIST- KAMRUP PIN- 781103. 21: L. LAIRANGTOMBI SINGHA C/O Y BROJENDRA SINGHA VILL AND P.O.- RAJYESWARPUR PT 2 DIST-HAILAKANDI PIN- 788151. 22: KISHORE THAKURIA S/O HIRENDRA THAKURIA VILL-DHUMGARA P.S. - CHHAYGAON P.O.- AG-GUMI PIN- 781124

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23: BHUPEN SAIKIA S/O MR. BHOGESWAR SAIKIA VILL-2 NO. SOLOGURI BAMPATHAR P.O.-TIPOMIA DIST-JORHAT PIN-785101. 24: KUSHAL CH. DAS S/O SARAT CH. DAS VILL - BAJALBARIGAON P.O. - BARUAJAN T.S.- TITABAR DIST- JORHAT PIN-785101.

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25: SIDHARTHA SANKAR SAIKIA S/O TITABAR POTIAGAON P.O. MELAMATI P.S. - TITABAR DIST-JORHAT PIN-785101.

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26: BIREN KACHARI S/O LATE BHOLA KANTAKACHARI VILL-2 NO. SOLOGURI BAMPATHAR P.O. - TIPOMIA DIST- JORHAT PIN-785101.

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27: DOMBORUDHAR DEORI S/O LATE DHAIRYA RAM DEORI VILL-SINGIONI P.O. - TENGAPANI P.S.-DEMOW DIST- SIVASAGAR PIN-785640.

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28: BOLIN SARMAH S/O MR. MANIK SARMAH P.O. AND VILL -BARPATHER HAZARIGAON DIST- GOLAGHAT PIN-785602 29: MRIDU PAWAN BORA S/O LATE GHANA KANTA BORA VILL-CHIRAKHUNDAGAON P.O.KALOOGAON DIST- SIVASAGAR PIN-785640. 30: DWIPEN SARMAH S/O PRABHAT SARMA RANGIA TINIALI WARD NO. 7 P.S.-RANGIA DIST- KAMRUP PIN- 781365. 31: RUPJYOTI BHUYAN S/O LATE G.C. BHUYAN VILL-SEUJPUR WARD NO. 8 P.O. SIMLAGURI P.S. - BARPETA ROAD DIST- BARPETA PIN- 781313. 32: DHIRAJ KAKATI S/O ROBINDRA NATH NATH VILL-SENAPATIPARA P.S. - SIPAJHAR DIST.- DARRANG PIN- 784148. 33: SYED ABDUL MUKADISH S/O LATE ABDUL WOHAB 2 NO. CHOULKORA VILLAGE P.O.-AKHOIPHUTIA DIST-SIVASAGAR PIN- 785640. 34: BIDYUT CHETIA S/O LATE DIPESH CHANDRA CHETIA VILL - BETBARI KAIBARTTA GAON P.O.- MITHAPUKHURI P.S. - SIVASAGAR DIST- SIVASAGAR

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PIN-785640.

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35: PRANJAL PRATIM GOSWAMI S/O RAMESH CHANDRA GOSWAMI VILL AND P.O. HEKRA P.S.-BOKO DIST- KAMRUP PIN- 781123. 36: BHABESH DAS S/O LATE CHITTARANJAN DAS VILL AND P.O.- MATIA DIST.- GOALAPARA PIN-783125. 37: MANSUR ALI S/O UMAR ALI VILL-NATUN SIMINA P.O.- BARDUAR PS. PALASHBARI DIST- KAMRUP PIN- 781128. 38: DIPANKAR KHOUND S/O LATE HEMCHANDRA KHOUND VILL-CHATIALGAON P.O-SOOTEA P.S.-SOOTEA DIST- SONITPUR PIN- 784175. 39: SAMAR SAHARIA S/O MOHAN SAHARIA VILL AND P.O.-BARANGABARI P.S. SIPAJHAR DIST- DARRANG PIN- 784145. 40: BIJOY KUMAR DAS S/O LATE GOPAL CH. DAS VILL AND P.O.-SIMLITOLA DIST-GOALPARA PIN- 783130. 41: PANKAJ BARMAN S/O LATE BASANTA BARMAN VILL-JAPARKUCHI P.O. - CHOWKBAZAR DIST-NALBARI PIN- 781334.

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42: PRABIN RAJBANSHI S/O LATE MOHAN RAJBANSHI VILL-ALENGIDAL P.O.- BHANDRA DIST-NALBARI PIN- 781334. 43: MONZIL KOTOKY S/O ROTNESWAR KOTOKY TITABOR BHAGAWATI PARA P.O. TITABOR DIST-JORHAT PIN- 785101. 44: MANTU KAKATI S/O RAMESWAR KAKATI VILL-KAMAR PANIGAON P.O. - NONOI P.S.-SADAR DIST- NAGAON PIN- 782101. 45: BHARAT CH. SAIKIA S/O LATE GHANASHYAM SAIKIA VILL AND P.O.-KUBARIKATA P.O.- DHANIA BHETI P.S.- BATADRAVA DIST- NAGAON PIN- 782122

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46: AMAR JYOTI BARMAN S/O LATE JOGENDRA NATH BARMAN VILL- CHAMUAGAON P.O. - JAJARI DIST- NAGAON PIN- 782123. 47: KIRAN CH. NATH S/O BHOLARAM NATH VILL-DOSOTANI (BARMANGOR) P.S.-SIPAJHAR DIST.- DARRANG PIN- 784145.

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48: KUSHAL SAIKIA S/O PUNARAM SAIKIA VILL-BORPASIGAON P.O. - TIPOMIA P.S.-BORHOLLA DIST- JORHAT PIN- 785014.

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49: MUKTI SONOWAL S/O TUKESWAR SONOWAL VILL- BORHOLA BORABARI P.O. AND P.S.- BORHOLLA DIST.-JORHAT PIN- 785014. 50: SUMAL DAS C/O JOYTI DAS VILL-NAGAYAN BORUHA CHOOK P.O.-SOOTEA DIST.-SONITPUR PIN- 784145. 51: DIPAMONI BORGOHAIN D/O CHANDRA KANTA BORGOHAIN VILL-BALICHAPORI DEKAGAON

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P.O.-HATIGORH DIST.-JORHAT

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PIN- 785101.

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52: PARAG KR. BORBORA S/O BHUJEN BORBORA VILL-BARPATHARI TANGUNDHARA

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P.O.-PATHARI P.S.- SADAR

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DIST.-NOAGAON PIN- 782001 ASSAM.

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53: DILIP KUMAR DAS S/O- LATE BHAGWAN CH DAS VILL- GOSAIPARA

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DIST. BONGAIGAON- 783380. 54: CHANDAN CHARAN CHUTIA S/O LATE PADMA CHUTIA

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VILL. NA-PAMNAH GAON

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P.O.- SAWKIHAT DIST.- GOLAGHAT

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PIN- 785625

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 26 ORS REP. BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM, HANDLOOM, TEXTILES AND SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI- 781006.

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2:THE DIRECTOR OF SERICULTURE ASSAM KHANAPARA GUWAHATI- 781022.

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3:THE CHAIRMAN SELECTION COMMITTEE POST OF SERICULTURE DEMONSTRATOR KHANAPARA GUWAHATI- 781022.

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4:DIPAK KUMAR NATH S/O- LT. DHARMA KT. NATH

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R/O- BAHUABHETI VILLAGE

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P.O.- KACHAMARI

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P.S.- SADAR DIST.- NAGAON ASSAM PIN- 782002.

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5:RUCHIMAI TAMULI D/O TEPURAM TAMULI R/O- CHELENGHAT JORHAT ASSAM PIN- 785636.

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6:DUAL CH. BORUAH S/O- LT. MAHENDRA NATH BARUAH R/O- PUBTHARIA

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DIST.- NAGAON ASSAM PIN- 782137. 7:NIRANJAN BORAH S/O- LT. JOGENDRA NATH BORA R/O- KHAZARGORAH GHURUNCHOR GAON

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DIST.- SIBSAGAR PIN- 785666. 8:PRASANTA MADHAB SAIKIA S/O- JATIN SAIKIA R/O- DIKHOWMUKH BHARALUA DIST.- SIBSAGAR- 785664.

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9:RAJUMONI BORA S/O- LT. OUNARAM BORA R/O- MAJPATHARI VILLAGE

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DIST.- NAGAON ASSAM. 10:BAREN NATH S/O- RABIRAM NATH R/O- DHAMDHAMA VILLAGE

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DIST.- NALBARI- 781349 ASSAM. 11:PRASANTA DUTTA S/O- JIBA KT. DUTTA

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R/O- VILL. DIKHOWMUKH BHARALU

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DIST.- SIVASAGAR- 785664 ASSAM.

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12:CHANDRA JYOTI OZAH S/O- LT. SONARAM OZAH R/O- VILL- TATAYA GAON DIST.- MAJULI- 785106 ASSAM.

13:AMAR JYOTI BORA

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S/O- GOPAL BORAH

R/O- GOAJGAON DIST.- MAJULI- 785104 ASSAM.

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14:BIPUL SAIKIA S/O- HAREN SAIKIA R/O- VILL. SARALA BARUAH CHOWK

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PIN- 78145.

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15:BULBUL CH. BORAH S/O- MANIK CHANDRA BORAH

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R/O VILL. DERGAON MOUZADAR ALI WARD NO. 8

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DIST.- GOLAGHAT- 785614.

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16:BEDANTA DUTTA S/O- LT. KUMUD DUTTA

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R/O- VILL. SALAGURI PAHI GAON

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DIST.- SIBSAGAR- 785666.

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17:JAYANTA KATOKI S/O- LT. BOLORAM KATOKI R/O- VILL- KHANAGURI DIST.- BISWANATH- 78417.

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18:MUNINDRA DEKA S/O- LT. TARANATH DEKA

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VILL. TETELIA P.S. HAJO

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KAMRUP(R) ASSAM PIN- 781108.

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19:MANOJ KR. NATH S/O- LT. GHANA KANTA NATH

VIL. KABEICHUBA

P.O.- BORDOULGURI

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DARRANG ASSAM PIN- 784145.

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20:BABUL NATH S/O- MANIRAM NATH

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VILL. SONARIATI P.O. RONGACHALI MAJULI ASSAM PIN- 785104.

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21:TARUN BARUAH S/O- BIRESWAR BARUAH

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VILL. BORPACHI GAON P.O.- TIPOMIA (TITABOR) JORHAT

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ASSAM PIN- 785630.

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22:PRADIP DAS S/O- LT. NITYANANDA DAS

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VILL.- MOLIAGAON P.S.- DERGAON P.O.- DHEKIAL GOLAGHAT PIN 785622. 23:NAZRUL ISLAM S/O- LT. KALIMUDDIN AHMED

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VILL- MADHUPUR P.S. BELSOR P.O. MURAL KUCHO NALBARI PIN- 781303.

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24:DEBALATA DEORI W/O- HAREN DEORI

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VILL. NAMHALLONG BIJOYPUR DEORI GAON P.O.- HOLLONG GATI BARI TINSUKIA PIN- 786160. 25:RUBUL HAQUE S/O- SAYED BASIR ALI

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VILL- RAJA BAZAR

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P.S.- HAJO P.O.- KALITA KUCHI KAMRUP(R) PIN- 781102. 26:BHARATI GOGOI W/O- MADON HANDIQUE VILL- KUNWARIBARI NO. 1 KOTHAIKUNDA P.O. SEPEKHATI CHARAIDEO PIN- 785692. 27:APURBA KR. DEKA S/O- DHIREN DEKA VILL AND P.O. MAJORKURI KAMRUP(R) PIN- 781101

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Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. U K NAIR

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Advocate for the Respondent : SC, HANDLOOM AND TEXTILE

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Linked Case : WP(C)/1402/2023

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DEBAJIT BORAH @ DEVAJIT BORAH S/O- TARANATH BORAH R/O- THENGAL GAON P.O.- JALKANIBARI P.S.- TITABOR

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DIST.- JORHAT ASSAM.

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 2 ORS REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM

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HANDLOOM

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TEXTILES AND SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT

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DISPUR GUWAHATI- 6. 2:THE DIRECTOR OF SERICULTURE ASSAM KHANAPARA GUWAHATI-22. 3:THE CHAIRMAN SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THE POST OF SERICULTURE DEMONSTRATOR KHANAPARA GUWAHATI-22. -----------Advocate for : MR. M J GOGOI Advocate for : SC SERICULTURE appearing for THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 2 ORS

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BEFORE

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HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUMAN SHYAM

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ORDER

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17.03.2023

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Heard Mr. U. K. Nair, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. A. Boro, learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioners in WP(C) No.1469/2023. Also heard Mr. M. J. Gogoi, learned counsel for the petitioner in WP(C) No.1402/2023. Mr. R. Dhar, learned Standing Counsel, Sericulture Department, Assam is present on behalf of the respondents.

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All the writ petitioners are unemployed youths and are desirous of participating in the recruitment process for appointment of Sericulture Demonstrator pursuant to the advertisement notice dated 01.03.2023. However, since they have crossed the upper age limit as per the advertisement notice the petitioners had submitted representations before the concerned authorities with a prayer to condone their upper age. Since no action has been taken on such application/representation, the petitioners have approached this Court by

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filing the instant writ petition.

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The petitioners’ counsel have projected that some similarly situated persons had earlier approached this Court ventilating similar grievance when their representation for condonation of upper age limit was not considered. In those cases, the petitioners wanted to apply for the same posts of Sericulture Demonstrator as advertised on 18.02.2020. By taking note of the submission of the learned departmental counsel that the authorities had decided to cancel the advertisement dated 18.02.2020 and issue a fresh advertisement notice, the learned Single Judge had observed that in such event the application for condonation of upper age limit made by those writ petitioners be considered. Accordingly, the upper age limit of those writ petitioners involved in WP(C) No.5454/2020 were relaxed and they have been allowed to participate in the recruitment process. Mr. Nair, learned senior counsel for the petitioners submits that since his clients are also similarly situated candidates who are hit by the age bar, hence, the respondents may be directed to consider their representation for condonation of age as well.

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On instructions obtained in terms of the order dated 15.03.2023 passed by this Court, Mr. Dhar submits that the petitioners are not placed on equal footing as the earlier group of writ petitioners since they had never approached this Court seeking age relaxation when the advertisement notice dated 18.02.2020 was issued. Similar is the stand of the Director of Sericulture, Assam projected in the written instruction. After scrutiny of the record, I find that the petitioners in WP(C) No.5454/2020 had approached this Court seeking age relaxation to participate in the proposed recruitment process by means of a fresh advertisement after withdrawal of the advertisement notice dated

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18.02.2020. It was in such context that the learned Single Judge had granted their prayer. Therefore, I find sufficient force in the submission of Mr. Dhar that the present petitioners stand on a different footing.

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Mr. Nair, however, submits that even if his clients are not treated as persons on equal footing as the petitioners in WP(C) No.5454/2020, even then, their representations for condonation of upper age limit deserves consideration on merit at the hands of the authorities. The aforesaid submission of Mr. Nair deserves due consideration and is therefore, found acceptable by this Court. Mr. M. J. Gogoi has also adopted the said submission.

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In view of the above and considering the fact that the last date of submission of application pursuant to the advertisement notice dated 01.03.2023 is 21.03.2023, these writ petitions are disposed of by providing that the respondent No.2 i.e. the Director of Sericulture, Assam shall take necessary steps for consideration of the representations already submitted by the petitioners with a prayer to condone their upper age limit by following the due process of law. The above consideration shall be done on its own merit, dehors the order dated 03.02.2021 passed by this Court in WP(C) No.5454/2020 and in the light of the Office Memorandum dated 30.05.1991.

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Facilitating the above, the 55 petitioners in these two writ petitions be permitted to provisionally apply in terms of the advertisement dated 01.03.2023 awaiting the outcome of their application for condonation of upper age limit. With the above observation, these writ petitions stand disposed of.

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JUDGE

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Comparing Assistant

Anjan Jyoti Das and 53 Ors. v. the State of Assam and 26 Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Anjan Jyoti Das and 53 Ors. v. the State of Assam and 26 Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Parties & counsel

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