Page No.# 1/15 GAHC010056442026 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/1629/2026 RUPEN BISWA AND 52 ORS. S/O-LT. KALU BISWA, AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS, VILL-HATISAR FV, P.O- DEOSRI, DIST-CHIRANG, BTC, ASSAM, PIN-783375 2: LIBLY BASUMATARY D/O-SUKURSHRI BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-NO.1 CHAPAGURI P.O-CHAPGURI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783380 3: JWNGSHRI BASUMATARY 3. W/O-BIKASH BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-40YEARS VILL-GWJWNPURI P.O-CHAPAGURI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783380 4: SANTOSH ISLARY S/O-YAKOB ISLARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-HATISAR P.O-DEOSRI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 Page No.# 2/15 5: MILION BASUMATARY S/O-LIREN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SALBARI P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 6: KUSUM NARZARY c/O-CHALENDRA NARZARY AGED ABOUT-39YEARS VILL-SUDEMPUR P.O-KACHUGAON DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783350 7: DERHASAT GOYARY S/O-RIPEN GOYARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SALBARI BHURPARA P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 8: EMANUYEL BASUMATARY S/O-LT. KHIREN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-SALBARI P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 9: AJOY BASUMATARY 9. S/O-PARESH BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-DEBADANGI P.O-DEOSRI DIST-CHIRANG Page No.# 3/15 BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 10: MOLAKHI BASUMATARY D/O-JONAHU BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-SALGURI P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 11: SAMUYEL BASUMATARY S/O-LT. KHIREN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-SALBARI P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 12: HABIL BARA S/O-LT.SHARAI BARA AGEDA ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-HATISAR F.V. P.O-DEOSRI DIST- CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 13: JANATAN CHETRY S/O-KRISHNA CHETRY AGED ABOUT- 38 YEARS VILL-HATISAR F.V. P.O- DEOSRI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 14: SATISH ISLARY S/O-YAKUB ISLARY AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-HATISAR F.V. Page No.# 4/15 P.O-DEOSRI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 15: SANJIT BASUMATARY S/O-PANIRAM BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-43YEARS VILL-PACHIM SALBARI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-7873375 16: SONALI BASUMATARY D/O-MANGAL CH. BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-PACHIM SALBARI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 17: KRISTINA BASUMATARY W/O-ARJUN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SALBARI F.V P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 18: PRABHAT BASUMATARY S/O-BAREN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-SALBARI F.V. P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 Page No.# 5/15 19: ANANTA ISLARY S/O-RAHEN ISLRY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-DEBADANGI P.O-DEOSRI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 20: KEROL MUCHAHARY S/O-LT. BANKIM MOCHAHARY AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-PARBATJHORA P.O-KOILAMOILA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783393 21: NANDIP NARZARY S/O-CHINTANAN NARZARY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-DWIMUGURI P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 22: BIRAJ BASUMATARY S/O-SEKAR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-GWJWNPURI NO.1 CHAPAGURI P.O-CHAPAGURI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783380 23: MANIN BASUMATARY S/O-HARI BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-MANDARGURI P.O-MALIVITA DIST-CHIRANG BTC Page No.# 6/15 ASSAM PIN-783393 24: DAOHARU BRAHMA C/O-BUTHAB BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-NO.1 KACHUBEEL P.O-PANBARI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783391 25: SWRANGSAT MUCHAHARY S/O-LT. SUNIRAM MUCHAHARY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-KALVARTJHORA P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 26: BIRHANG MOSHAHARY S/O-PREDIK MOSHAHARY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-NO.1 CHAPAGURI P.O-CHAPAGURI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783380 27: JIRIMIAH ISLARY S/O-LT. SIMAN ISLARY AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS VILL-BAMUNGAON P.O-DUTTAPUR F.V. DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783373 28: ANSUMA BASUMATARY S/O-SRI CHAKRADHAR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BAIRAJHORA P.O-DUTTAPUR Page No.# 7/15 DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783373 29: ANIN BASUMATARY S/O-HARI BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-MANDARGURI P.O-MALIVITA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783393 30: BIRJON NARZARY S/O-LT. KADRA NARZARY AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS VILL-GANDWIBARI P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 31: PRANJOY MUSHAHARY S/O-HOKE MUSHAHARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-PASCHIM SALBARI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 32: LACHIT NARZARY S/O-LT. BINOY NARZARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-NO.1 CHEKADANI P.O-BAIRALI DIST-KOKRAJHARBTC ASSAM PIN-783350 33: PRAKASH NARZARY S/O-THAJEN NARZARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SALGURI P.O-RANIPUR Page No.# 8/15 DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 34: RAJA MUSHAHARY S/O-SABIN MUSHAHRY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BHADRANPUR P.O-BISHMURI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 35: FAKHAN BRAHMA S/O-PHUKHA BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-MESTABARI P.O-PATGAON DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783346 36: PHAILAO DAIMARY S/O-SRI AMARSING DAIMARY AGED ABOUT-46 YEARS VILL-BANDUGURI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 37: TOPA DAIMARY S/O-LATE AMARSING DAIMARY AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-BANDUGURI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANGBTC ASSAM PIN-783375 38: DEWRAJ MUSHAHARY 38. S/O-SRI SATYA MUSHAHRI AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS Page No.# 9/15 VILL-GYATIGAON P.O-BERANGABARI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 39: DWITUN BASUMATARY S/O-SRI KANTESWAR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-43YEARS VILL- BANDUGURI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 40: BENEDRA BASUMATARY S/O-RABINDRA BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-BANDUGURI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 41: CHANDALAL NARZARY S/O-SANKAR NARZARY AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS VILL-KATRIBARI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 42: LAKHIKANTA DAIMARY 42. S/O-PERNA DAIMARY AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS VILL-HATIDHURA F.V. P.O-KUNGRING DIST- CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 Page No.# 10/15 43: ANDIRA BASUMATARY D/O-GIRISH BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS VILL-NO.2 KASHIKOTRA P.O-KASHIKOTRA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783373 44: ARGA NARZARY S/O-ANTENG NARZARY AGED ABOUT-43 YEARS VILL-DANDUGURI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 45: DWMWI BASUMATARY W/O-TRINATH BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL GENDARGAON P.O-KASHIKOTRA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783373 46: BIRASH BASUMATARY S/O-LT. SUNIL BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-BORDANGI P.O-SHANTIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 47: PUSHPA MUSHAHRY W/O-SAMESH DAIMARY AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS VILL-BANDUGURI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM Page No.# 11/15 PIN-783375 48: HELEMEN NARZARY S/O-LT. GOJEN NARZARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BESORBARI P.O-JOYPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783393 49: SURJON NARZARY S/O-SAMARSING NARZARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BESORBARI P.O-OUGURI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783394 50: SINTAMONI ISWARY 50. C/O-RENJEN ISWARY AGED ABOUT- 38 YEARS VILL-NO.2 BURIJHAR P.O-TUKRAJHAR DIST-RUNIKHATA BTC ASSAM PIN-783394 51: SAFIRA BORGOYARY C/O-NIKEL BORGOYARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-DWIMUGURI P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 52: SUSANTO ISWARY 52. S/O-RENJEN ISWARY AGED ABOUT-46 YEARS VILL-NO.2 BHURIJHAR Page No.# 12/15 P.O-TUKRAJHAR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783394 53: RINGKHANG BASUMATARY C/O-LONGKESWAR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-46 YEARS VILL-NO.1 KUSUNGDWISA P.O-SHANTIPUR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-78337 VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 10 ORS. REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, ASSAM, GUWAHATI- 6. 2:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST ASSAM REHABARI GUWAHATI-8. 3:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM FINANCE DEPARTMENT DISPUR GUWAHATI-6. 4:THE BODOLAND TERRITORIAL COUNCIL (BTC) REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY KOKRAJHAR ASSAM PIN-783370 5:THE SECRETARY FOREST DEPARTMENT BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 6:THE COUNCIL HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREST BTC KOKRAJHAR Page No.# 13/15 ASSAM PIN-783370 7:ADDL PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST CUM COUNCIL HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT FOREST BTC KOKRAJHAR ASSAM PIN-783370 8:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER CHIRANG DIVISION KAJALGAON CHIRANG BTR ASSAM PIN783385 9:FOREST DEPOT OFFICER BASUGAON DEPOT OFFICER PIN-783372 10:FOREST RANGE OFFICER RUNIKHATA RANGE RUNIKHATA PIN-783375 11:FOREST RANGE OFFICER SIDLI RANGE RUNIKHATA PIN-78339 Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A BORO, MS TOSHISENLA,I KUMARI,MR H P GUWALA Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, SC, FINANCE,SC, BTC BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SOUMITRA SAIKIA ORDER 20.03 .2026 Heard Mr. A. Boro, learned counsel for the petitioner petitioners. Also heard Ms. N. Choudhury, learned Standing Counsel, BTC. Page No.# 14/15 2. Having regard to the nature of the case projected by the petitioners, the writ petition is taken up for disposal with the consent of the parties. 3. It is the case of the petitioner that due to shortages of manpower between the period of 2006-2007, they have been engaged as casual workers for protection of reserve forest and its forest resources under Chirang Division, Kajalgaon in the Forest Department, 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 render by a Division Bench of this Court in State of Assam Vs Shri. Upen Das reported in 2020 (5) GLT 605. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that since there is no 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). 5. Ms. N. Choudhury, 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 of this Court in Upen Das (supra) 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 workers since Page No.# 15/15 2006-2007 which has not been disputed by the respondents. 6. 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 verifications as may be required. The petitioners be afforded the minimum pay scale as directed 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. 7. Writ petition accordingly stands disposed of. JUDGE Comparing Assistant