L. JAYENTAKUMAR SINGH AND ORS. Vs. THE STATE OF MANIPUR AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Shri N. Jotendro, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Shri Samarjit Hawaibam, learned Govt. Advocate appearing for all the respondents.

(2.) BY the present writ petition, the petitioners have questioned the legality and correctness of the order dated 10 -01 -2011 issued by the Commissioner (Science & Technology), Government of Manipur.

(3.) IT is submitted by Shri N. Jotendro, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners that the petitioners were appointed as Project Officers and LDCs on contract basis on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. The judgment and order dated 22 -01 -2001 passed by the Hon'ble Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench in W.P. (C) No. 1135 of 1999 had attained finality and the respondents ought to comply with the directions contained therein. Since the petitioners have rendered more than 20 (twenty) years of service on contract basis, they are entitled to be absorbed or regularised to any of the posts in the Line Departments. It is further submitted by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners that the Government of Manipur has issued various orders for regularising the ad -hoc/contract employees, one of which being the order dated 05 -01 -2011 by which the Govt. of Manipur has appointed as many as 43 (forty -three) contract employees of the Environment and Ecology Wing, Department of Forests and Environment on regular basis and non -appointment of the petitioners on regular basis is violative of the Article 14 of the Constitution of India.