- (1.) Leave granted. All these civil appeals which have been preferred by Calcutta Port Trust can be dealt with under a common judgment since the point involved is common.
(2.) The facts necessary to render the decision are as follows : In the year 1966-67, land acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act (Central Act 1 of 1984) (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') were initiated for acquiring land at Haldia Dock Complex. Consequent to this acquisition, several families came to be uprooted from the places of residence. Besides, the lands owned by them which were the only source of livelihood were lost. Respondents belong to-that category.
(3.) On 17-10-1977 the Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal (Labour Department) issued a memo containing certain directions with regard to the recruitment in the State Government Establishments, State Government Undertakings, Quasi Government Establishments. Inter alia, it was stated therein that the employer authority shall notify to the appropriate employment exchange about all vacancies that might occur in their establishments from time to time. It was laid down that the names of the unemployed persons were to be forwarded to the employers by the employment exchanges, generally in the order of seniority. The idea was, where other factors and requirements in respect of qualification are equal, priority in the matter of appointment was to be given to those who enrolled their names earlier unless they had been given adequate chance or already employed in comparable scales. It was further mentioned that every provision of Employment Exchange Manual shall be strictly followed. It was also stated that the employment exchange should also try to give greater priority to the candidates from the backward areas.;