AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT F.A./V.E.W. /EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Shri N. Jotendro, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Shri L. Shyam, learned Advocate appearing for the petitioners and Shri N. Kumarjit Singh, learned Advocate General, Manipur assisted by Shri P. Tamphamani, learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

(2.) The validity and correctness of the Department of Agriculture, Manipur Assistant Agriculture Officer and other Post with Identical Scale of Pay and Similar Duties Recruitment Rules, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as "the Recruitment Rules, 2014") published vide Notification dated 17.11.2014 is under challenge in this writ petition and in addition thereto, a prayer has also been made to direct the State Government not to give any promotion on the basis of the said recruitment rules pending disposal of the instant writ petition or, in the alternative, to restore the Department of Agriculture, Manipur Assistant Agriculture Officer and other Post with Identical Scale of Pay and Similar Duties Recruitment Rules, 2007 published vide Notification dated 05.12.2007 (hereinafter referred to as "the Recruitment Rules, 2007").

(3.) Facts and circumstances as narrated in the writ petition, are that the members of the petitioner association were initially appointed as Field Assistants/ Village Extension Workers in the Department of Agriculture, Government of Manipur vide orders dated 30.05.1980 and 25.11.1981 issued by the State Government. The petitioner association is an association registered on 29.09.2015 under the provisions of the Trade Union Act, 1926.