THOKCHOM APABI SINGH AND ORS. Vs. THE STATE OF MANIPUR AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Shri Ajoy Pebam, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Shri K. Jagat, learned Govt. Advocate appearing for the respondents.

(2.) The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioners for payment of back wages/honorarium of the petitioner Nos. 4 to 20 w.e.f. August, 2000 to March, 2003 amounting to a sum of Rs. 8,16,000 (Rupees eight lakhs and sixteen thousand) and also for quashing the Government order dated 16-02-2005 issued by the Principal Secretary (Health), Government of Manipur.

(3.) It is contended by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that since the petitioners had rendered guard services as agreed verbally between the petitioner No. 2 and respondent No. 2 with the full knowledge of the other respondents and with the understanding that the approval of the State Government would be obtained in the meantime, they had a legitimate expectation of receiving a minimum service charges in the form of honorarium; that the Article 23 of the Constitution is violated and that the principles of natural justice are violated due to non- application of mind before the impugned order was issued by the Principal Secretary (Health). No affidavit-in-opposition has been filed on behalf of the respondents and therefore, the learned Government Advocate has submitted that since the petitioners were engaged without any authority/permission from the State Government, they were not entitled to wages/honorarium.