Page No.# 1/22 GAHC010157652025 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/4009/2025 NABIN CH BASUMATARY AND 95 ORS. S/O- SABIN BASUMATARY, VILL- MADANGURI, P.O- RUPAHI, DIST-BAKSA, ASSAM, PIN-781318 2: ABINASH MACHAHARY S/O-LT. NABIN MACHAHARY VILL-MADANGURI P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 3: ARUN BASUMATARY S/O- GANESH BASUMATARY VILL- BARGAON P.O-BARMAJRA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781367 4: ANCHAI BASUMATARY S/O-LILADHAR BASUMATARY VILL-ARKHARA P.O-BAKUA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781327 5: LAHARI BASUIMATARY S/O-BASANTA BASUMATARY VILL- DONGPAR P.O- BARMAJRA Page No.# 2/22 DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781367 6: PURNA BORO S/O-DENTHA BORO VILL- 2 NO. MAJRABARI P.O-BARMAJRA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781367 7: RITUL DEKA S/O- PRAFULLA DEKA VILL-BANGAON P.O-BANGRAM DIST-NALBARI ASSAM PIN-781303 8: SUKRAM BASUMATARY S/O-BHADRO BASUMATARY VILL-KHUSRATARI P.O-BARMAJRA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781367 9: KUMAR BASUMATARY S/O-LT. JANAN BASUMATARY VILL-AND P.O- KHAMARSDWISA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781330 10: MAHANTA DAS S/O- LT. UMESH DAS VILL-BHUYANPARA P.O-RUAPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 Page No.# 3/22 11: MRIDUL GOYARY S/O-LT. LAKHI KANTA GOYARY VILL-NO.2 KOKLABARI P.O-KAMARDWISA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781330 12: SWDWMSA BASUMATARY S/O-NAKUL BASUMATARY VILL-KAREBARI P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 13: HARICHARAN DAIMARY S/O-LATE NARESWAR DAIMARY VILL-RAJABIL P.O-RUPOHI DIST-BAKSA PIN-781318 14: NIJWM KHERKATARY S/O- LOPSHA KHERKATARY VILL-DONGPAR P.O-BARMAJRA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781367 15: SATIRAM BASUMATARY S/O-SEKHARAM BASUMATARY VILL-BHALMANUHAR VITHA P.O- GOLAGAON DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781330 16: MANOSH DAIMARY S/O-RAJANI KANTA DAIMARY VILL-BATHOUPURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM Page No.# 4/22 PIN-781318 17: BIPUL BASUMATARY S/O-RUBICHARAN BASUMATARY VILL-KAREBARI P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 18: MAINAO BASUMATARY D/O-KATIMAL BASUMATARY VILL-KHUSRATARY P.O- BARMAJRA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781367 19: DAIMALU BASUMATARY S/O-MEDINI BASUMATARY VILL-RANGIDARA P.O-BETBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781327 20: SRI ARJUN KUMAR BRAHMA S/O-PRADIP KUMAR BRAHMA VILL-UTTER CHAFAKAMAR P.O-GOBARDHANA DIST-BARPETA ASSAM PIN-781315 21: BABITA KACHARY W/O-HWSIKRAO BASUMATARY VILL-ARKARA P.O- BAKUWA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781327 22: BODEN MACHAHARY Page No.# 5/22 S/O- SANTHOLA MACHAHARY VILL-GOTHAIBARI P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 23: SUMITRA SWARGIARY D/O-CHILARAI SWARGIARY VILL-SIMLAGURI P.O-BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 24: AMAR BASUMATARY S/O-HOGO RAM BASUMATARY VILL-GWTHAIBARI P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 25: TENJING GOYARY S/O-SANARAM GOYARY VILL-GHORAMARA P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 26: ANSUMA DAIMARY S/O-GANESH DAIMARY VILL-CHAITANGURI P.O-SONAPHULI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 27: JITEN DAIMARY S/O-SADHANANDA DAIMARY VILL-KAREBARI Page No.# 6/22 P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 28: BARANGGA BASUMATARY S/O-BABURAM BASUMATARY VILL-MADHAPUR (MAINAOPURI) P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 29: JAGANNATH DAIMARY S/O-BABU RAM DAIMARY VILL-RAJABIL (GOSAIBHITA) P.O- RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 30: FRANCHIS GOYARY S/O-SONARAM GORARY VILL-GHORAMARA P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 31: ANSUMA GAYARY S/O-BHAKAT GAYARY VILL-KHANTHALGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 32: RANJIT BASUMATARY S/O- DHIREN BASUMATARY VILL-SILIKHAGURI P.O-JONAI DIST-DHEMAJI ASSAM Page No.# 7/22 PIN-787060 33: BAKUL BASUMATARY S/O-KANCHA BASUMATARY VILL-KHANTHALGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 34: RUPON SWARGIYARY S/O- MRINDRAMOHAN SWARGIARY VILL-KHANTALGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 35: AMARSING DAIMARY S/O- LT. THAMESWAR DAIMARY VILL-KHANTALGURI P.O- SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 36: RUBILAL WARY S/O-LT. ANTHENG WARY VILL-GWTHAIBARI P.O-RUPOHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 37: CHABIN BASUMATARY S/O- TIKEN BASUMATARY VILL-PALCHIGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 38: MRINAL RAMCHIARY Page No.# 8/22 S/O-GOHIN RAMCHIARY VILL-KHANTALGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 39: KANTESWAR BASUMATARY S/O- LATE BANESWAR BASUMATARY VILL-KANTALGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 40: SANKAR BRAHMA S/O-BINOD BRAHMA VILL-PALCHIGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 41: ANANTA SWARGIYARY S/O-LT. HARGABIN SWARGIARY VILL-KHANTALGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 42: LAMBHA DAIMARY S/O-LT. LAHIT DAIMARY AGED ABOUT-44 YEARS VILL-DAIREBARI P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 43: LAKHI BASUMATARY S/O-LT. DEBESWAR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-49 YEARS VILL-DAORAIBARI Page No.# 9/22 P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 44: GUNAJIT MACHAHARY S/O-BISTIRAM MACHAHARY VILL-GWTHWIBARI P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 45: SANJIB KR MACHAHARY S/O-LT. GAJEN MACHAHARY VILL-GWTHWIBARI P.O- RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 46: RAME BASUMATARY S/O-KAMLESWAR BASUMATARY VILL-HAHCHARA P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 47: NIRAN DAS S/O-LT. RAMESH DAS VILL-AOUHATA P.O- SARUPETA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 48: RANJIT GOYARI S/O-BHABIRAM GOYARI VILL-CHAMUAGATI P.O- SARUPETA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 Page No.# 10/22 49: MANTU DAS S/O- UPEN DAS R/O- VILL AND P.O- BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 50: MAHENDRA BORO S/O-HAREN BORO VILL-MAYANGPARA P.O-BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 51: JAHUR ALI S/O-GOLAP ALI VILL-RAGHAB BIL P.O- BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315. 52: RAIJ UDDIN S/O-JURAN ALI VILL-RAGHABILL P.O-BARENGABIL DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 53: MD SHAIJ UDDIN S/O-KADDUS ALI VILL-ELENGAMARI P.O-KALPANI BAZAR DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 54: NAJIM UDDIN SHEIKH S/O-ABUL HUSSAIN VILL-BISHPANI P.O-KALPANI BAZAR DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 Page No.# 11/22 55: JEHERUL ISLAM S/O-SURAPAD ALI VILL-NARAYANGURI P.O-BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 56: BABUL HUSSAIN S/O- NUR BOXA R/O- VILL RAGHABEEL P.O-BERENGABARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM-781315 57: ABDUL SABUR ZAMAL S/O-SAMAD ALI VILL-NARENGURI P.O-BARENGAABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 58: NASHER ALI S/O-NURUL ISLAM VILL-N.K KHAGRABARI P.O-BERENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 59: SANTHALA KHERKATARY S/O-THUNLA KHERKATARY VILL-RAJABIL P.O-RUPOHI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781318 60: SERGA BASUMATARY S/O-METAR BASUMATARY VILL AND P.O-BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA Page No.# 12/22 BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 61: GWMSAR MACHAHARY S/O-GAORAO MACHAHARY VILL-UDHIAGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 62: SANSUMA DAIMARY S/O-BISTI DAIMARY VILL-MAYANGPARA P.O-BARANGABARI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 63: FULJOHN MUSAHARY S/O-SABIN MUSAHARY VILL AND P.O-BERENGABARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 64: JERBAS BASUMATARY S/O-NEOLA BASUMATARY VILL AND P.O- BERENGABARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 65: GALA BASUMATARY S/O-LT. METHAR BASUMATARY VILL-BARENGABARI P.O-BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 66: JAGEN DAIMARI S/O-BHABEN DAIMARY VILL- MAYANGPARA Page No.# 13/22 P.O- BERENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 67: KARUN BASUMATARY S/O-NEWLA BASUMATARY VILL-KAHIBARI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 68: SANJIV RAMCHIARY S/O-KRISHNA RAMCHIARY VILL-RAJABIL P.O-RUPOHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 69: SANKAR SUTRADHAR S/O-RASIK SUTRADHAR VILL- WARD NO. 1 BARPETA ROAD P.O-BARPETA DIST-BARPETA ASSAM PIN-781315 70: HEMEN CH BARO S/O-SUKRA RAM BARO VILL-GOSAIBITHA (RAJABIL) P.O-RUPOHI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781318 71: JYOTISH DAS S/O-RABIN DAS VILL-BHUYANPARA P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781318 Page No.# 14/22 72: SEHANG BORO S/O-BASANTA BORO VILL-KAHITAMA PATHAR P.O-KAHITOMA DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 73: ASTIK BARMAN S/O-JANAKI BARMAN VILL-KHAGRABARI P.O-KALPANIBAZAR DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 74: DIMACHA DAIMARY S/O-KANCHAN DAIMARY VILL-RAJABIL P.O- RUPOHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 75: BUDHIRAM DAS S/O- BIPUL CH. DAS VILL-BHUYANPARA P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781318 76: KARNABAHADUR BASNET S/O-PADMA BAHADUR BASNET VILL-KAHITOMAGAON P.O-KAHITAMA DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 77: MERGA MOCHAHARY S/O-JATINDRA MOCHAHARY VILL-PALCHIGURI P.O- SALBARI DIST-BAKSA BTC Page No.# 15/22 ASSAM PIN-781318 78: SANJAY SUTRADHAR S/O-KULEN SUTRADHAR VILL AND P.O - BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 79: LWKWI RAM NARZARY S/O-BURA NARZARY VILL-RAJABIL P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781318 80: HITESWAR SUTRADHAR S/O- LATE PANIYA SUTRADHAR VILL AND P.O-BERENGABARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 81: RAHUL GORH S/O-SAITU GORH VILL- GYATIGAON P.O-BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 82: SANCHAN DAS S/O-LAKHI KANTA DAS VILL-KUMGURI P.O-RUPOHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781316 83: PURNA DAIMARY S/O- BISHTI DAIMARI VILL-KAMALABARI P.O- SALBARI Page No.# 16/22 DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 84: LOCHIB DAIMARY S/O-NAKUL DAIMARY VILL-RAJABIL P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781318 85: LAHIT DAS S/O-JAGEN DAS VILL-BHUYANPARA P.O- RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 86: NANDA BRAHMA S/O-BINOD BRAHMA VILL-PALCHIGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781318 87: JATIL MACHAHARY S/O- LALIT MACHAHARI VILL- UDHIAGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 88: GONESH MEDHI S/O- MONESWAR MEDHI VILL-GYATIGAON P.O- BERENGABARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 Page No.# 17/22 89: DIPUL RAMCHIARY S/O- GAMBHIR RAMCHIARY VILL-SILIKHAGURI P.O-JONAI DIST-DHEMAJI ASSAM PIN-787060 90: HEMAN BASUMATARY S/O-GOLAK BASUMATARY VILL-GYATIGAON P.O- RUPOHI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 91: RANJIT BASUMATARY S/O- UPENDRA BASUMATARY VILL-KHANTALGURI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 92: SUSHIL SWARGIARY S/O- HARGABIN SWAGIARY VILL-KAMALABARI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781318 93: RAJU GORH S/O-SUKRA GORH VILL-GYATIGAON P.O-BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA ASSAM PIN-781315 94: GOBINDA GORH S/O-BISNURAM GORH VILL-GYATIGAON P.O-BARENGABARI DIST-BAKSA BTC Page No.# 18/22 ASSAM PIN-781315 95: PHANINDRA NATH S/O-LATE KANGSHA NATH VILL-LABDANGURI PATHAR P.O-LABDANGURI 96: AJOY KUMAR MACHAHARY S/O-LATE BASUDEV MACHAHARY VILL- PALCHIGURI P.O.-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-78131 VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 10 ORS. REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, ASSAM, GUWAHATI- 6. 2:THE JOINT SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT DISPUR ASSAM GUWAHATI-6. 3:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST ASSAM REHABARI GUWAHATI-8. 4:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM FINANCE DEPARTMENT DISPUR GUWAHATI-6. 5:THE BODOLAND TERRITORIAL COUNCIL (BTC) REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY KOKRAJHAR ASSAM PIN-783370 6:THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST BTC KOKRAJHAR Page No.# 19/22 ASSAM PIN-783370 7:ADDL PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST CUM COUNCIL HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT FOREST BTC KOKRAJHAR PIN-783370 8:THE FIELD DIRECTOR MANAS TIGER RESERVE FOREST BARPETA ROAD ASSAM PIN-781315 9:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER BAKSA MUSHALPUR BTC ASSAM PIN-781372 10:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER BHUYANPARA RANGE BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-783384 11:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER BANSBARI RANGE BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-78339 Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A BORO, MR H P GUWALA,MS N NEWME Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, SC, FINANCE,SC, BTC Page No.# 20/22 BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SOUMITRA SAIKIA ORDER 23-07-2025 Heard Mr. A Boro, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. D Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department, Mr. S Bora, learned Standing Counsel, BTC and Mr. R. Borpujari, learned Standing Counsel, Finance Department. 2. It is the case of the petitioners that due to shortages of manpower between the period 2006-2007, they have been engaged as casual workers for protection of forest and wildlife in Manas National Park, Baksa, BTC. Even since their engagement, they have been working as such till date but have been paid only a meager sum of fixed wages. It is the case of the petitioners that they are entitled to get the benefit of minimum pay scale in terms of the decision rendered by a Division Bench of this Court in State of Assam Vs Shri Upen Das reported in 2020 (5) GLT 605. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the respondent Authorities have duly admitted that the petitioners have been rendering their services in the Forest Department under the Baksa, BTC since 2006-07. Therefore, the learned counsel for the petitioners submit that since there is no Page No.# 21/22 dispute, a direction may be issued to the respondent authorities to pay the petitioner a minimum scale of pay in terms of Upen Das (supra). 4. Mr. S. Bora, learned Standing Counsel, BTC on the other hand submits that the petitioners are only engaged on casual basis and since it is not a substantive appointment, there is no question of granting them the pay scale as claimed by them. It may, however, be seen that the direction of a Division Bench this Court in Upen Das (supra) is that all such Muster Roll Workers, Worked Charge Workers and similarly placed employees working since the last more than 10 years and not in a sanctioned post should be granted the minimum of pay scale w.e.f. 01.08.2017. Admittedly, the petitioners in the present case are not working against a sanctioned post but are engaged as casual worker since 2006-07 which has not been disputed by the respondents. 5. Considering the same, the respondent authorities are directed to grant the petitioners the benefit of minimum pay scale in terms of Upen Das (supra). Before granting them such benefit, the respondents will be at liberty to make necessary verification as may be required. The petitioners be afforded the minimum pay scale as directed near above as expeditiously as possible and preferably within a period of 3 (three) months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. Page No.# 22/22 6. Writ petition accordingly stands disposed of. JUDGE Comparing Assistant