Page No.# 1/3 GAHC010057072021 2025:GAU-AS:13174 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/2136/2021 SATKHOHAU CHANGSAN S/O LATE KAIKHOLUN CHANGSAN, RESIDENCE OF VILLAGE LASANG PO AND PS MAHUR, DIST DIMA HASAO. ASSAM VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 4 ORS REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, GOVT. OF ASSAM, SOIL CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI 06 2:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY FINANCE DEPARTMENT DISPUR GUWAHATI 06 3:DIRECTOR OF SOIL CONSERVATION ASSAM BHUMI SANGRAKSHAN BHAWAN 1ST FLOOR R.G. BARUA ROAD GUWAHATI ASSAM 781005 4:ASSAM PLANTATION CROPS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED OPPOSITE SARUSAJAI NATIONAL COMPLEX SAWKUCHI NH 37 LAKHARA GUWAHATI 781034 ASSAM REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR 5:THE MANAGING DIRECTOR ASSAM PLANTATION CROPS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED OPPOSITE SARUSAJAI NATIONAL COMPLEX SAWKUCHI Page No.# 2/3 NH 37 LAKHARA GUWAHATI 781034 ASSA Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A BHATTACHARYYA, MR P S RAJA Advocate for the Respondent : SC, SOIL CONSERVATION DEPTT., SC, FINANCE BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANJAN MONI KALITA ORDER Date : 24.09.2025 Heard Mr. A. Bhattacharyya, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. P. Hazarika, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent nos. 1, 3, 4 & 5; and Mr. P. Nayak, learned Standing Counsel, Finance Department for the respondent no. 2. 2. This instant case has been filed by the petitioner under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for a direction to the respondent authorities to make payment of retirement benefits to the petitioner including the Gratuity and Leave Encashment benefits with interest. It is the case of the petitioner that after rendering almost 23 (twenty-three) years of service in the respondent corporation till 28.02.2017, as the petitioner could not carry on his service due to health issues, he was discharged from the service of the respondent corporation with effect from 28.02.2017. It is the contention of the petitioner that after his discharge, till date, he has not been paid the retirement benefits, i.e., Gratuity, Contributory Provident Fund and Leave Encashment benefits by the respondent corporation. 3. It is seen that during the pendency of the writ petition, the respondent department by way of an additional affidavit brought to the notice of this Court that vide a State Cabinet decision dated 27.08.2025, the State Cabinet has given the approval for closure of the respondent corporation. It has been stated in the affidavit that the amounts of retirement benefits of the petitioner along with some other petitioners shall be included in the Closure Cost of the corporation which the Hon’ble Cabinet has approved. It is also seen from the extract of the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 27.08.2025 at 3-30 pm in the Cabinet Page No.# 3/3 Room of Chief Minister’s Office, Dispur that financial sanction for an amount of Rs. 600,00,000/- (VRS amount Rs. 243,37,000/- + Closure Cost Rs. 356,24,000/-) has been given by the Cabinet. 4. In view of the aforesaid affidavit filed by the respondents, the petitioner has agreed to approach the respondent department for the retirement benefits he is seeking under the instant writ petition. 5. In view of aforesaid facts that have been brought on record, this Court is of the considered opinion that there is no purpose of keeping this writ petition alive in this Court and, therefore, this Court directs the petitioner to submit his claim before the respondent department at the earliest so that the department may consider releasing his retirement benefits as soon as possible. 6. The petitioner shall submit a copy of this Order to the department as early as possible and accordingly, the department will decide on such claim. 7. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of with the aforesaid directions. JUDGE Comparing Assistant