Page No.# 1/15 GAHC010031052026 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/1018/2026 NIJWM MUSHAHARY AND 51 ORS. S/O-LT. JALESWAR MUSHAHARY, AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS, VILL- SUDEMPUR, P.O-KACHUAGAON, DIST-KOKRAJHAR, BTC, ASSAM, PIN- 783350 2: MIJUISH NARZARY S/O-BUDHIRAM NARZARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-NO.2 OXIGURI P.O-AMTEKA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783393 3: SUSANA BASUMATARY D/O-BINEN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-NO.2 OXIGURI P.O-AMTEKA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-78339 4: DENGKW BASUMATARY S/O-LT. ANGELUS BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL- VILL-NO.2 OXIGURI P.O-AMTEKA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-78339 5: DEBANAN NARZARY S/O-LT.HARENDRA NARZARY Page No.# 2/15 AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-NEW KAGRABARI P.O-BAIRALI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783350 6: BIRBAL BASUMATARY S/O-BIPIN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-GORSHINGPARA P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 7: JOITHUL BASUMATARY 1.S/O-KARTIK BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-KANTHALMARI P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 8: TRISHNA BRAHMA D/O-CHABIN BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-RAJABIL P.O-RUPAHI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781318 9: GHANSHYAM SWARGIARY S/O-DHANI RAM SWARGIARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BAGEMARI P.O-SARUPETA DIST-BARPETA ASSAM PIN-781318 10: MANAMATI BRAHMA Page No.# 3/15 D/O-RAHINI KUMAR BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-UTTER RUNIKHATA P.O-RUNIKHATA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 11: SARADA GOYARI 11. C/O-SUPEN GOYARI AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-GOYBARI P.O-KHAGRABARI DIST- CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783394 12: DIPANKAR BASUMATARY S/O-AREN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-CHAPAGURI P.O-CHAPAGAURI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783380 13: BIRDAO BRAHMA S/O-BIRON BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-GOYBARI P.O-KHAGRABARI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783394 14: BIKRAM BRAHMA S/O-KAMOLA BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-DIPU P.O-KASHIKOTRA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM Page No.# 4/15 PIN-783373 15: BUKUL GAYARI S/O-BISAN GAYARI AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-CHEMITIAPARA P.O-THAMNA DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781377 16: JYOTISH RAMCHIARY S/O-CHANDRA RAMCHIARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-NO.2 PAKHAMARA P.O-DHANBIL DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781343 17: RENU DAIMARY C/O-AMERENDRA DAIMARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-KAHITAMA P.O-KAHITAMA DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781315 18: RINGSHAR BRAHMA 18.S/O-NIRMAL BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-PANBARI P.O-PANBARI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783391 19: ANJIMA HAJOWARY D/O-TAMASH HAJOWARY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-SUDEMPURI P.O-NO.1 CHAPAGURI DIST-CHIRANG Page No.# 5/15 BTC ASSAM PIN-783380 20: JWNGDAO BASUMATARY S/O-JOGEN BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-GARAGAON SALBARI KASHIBARI P.O-GARUBHASA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783373 21: KAMAL KUMAR BRAHMA S/O-BICHEN BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-CHOTO ADABARI P.O-CHORAIKHOLA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783376 22: BISHNUJIT BRAHMA S/O-MATURA MAHAN BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS VILL-CHAPAGURI P.O-CHAPAGURI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783380 23: TIRUTSING BISMITH S/O-LT. MAHHESH RANJAN BISMITH VILL-KASHIBARI P.O-KHAGRABARI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783385 24: SWMKHWR BRAHMA S/O-BIKEN BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-DOGORPARA P.O-KAGHRABARI Page No.# 6/15 DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783372 25: JAGADISH CH BRAHMA S/O-DHIREN CH. BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-DOGORPARA P.O-CHAPAGURI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783380 26: BURBASAN BASUMATARY S/O-GEORGIA BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-SOUTH GENDERGAON P.O-KASHIKOTRA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783373 27: PINKURAM BARO S/O-DARGARAM BARO AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-SALBARI P.O-SALBARI DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-781320 28: BANDONA BRAHMA D/O-JAGESH BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-DULIGAON VILL-RANCHAIDHAM P.O- RANCHAIDHAM DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783372 29: TWINKLE BORGOYARY D/O-AMIYO BORGOYARY Page No.# 7/15 AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-CHIRANGKUNGRI P.O-TUKRAJHAR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783394 30: SANKANG DAIMAHRY S/O-LT. BITENDRA DAIMARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-CHORAIKHONSRA P.O-TILOKGAON DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783372 31: MAHESH BASUMATARY S/O-PARMESWAOR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-SANTIPUR BARGAON BARPETA P.O-SANTIPUR BARAGAON DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 32: SOROLA BASUMATARY D/O-BURENDRA BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL- NO.1 JAMUNAGURI P.O-BETINI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783393 33: JULINA HAZOWARY D/O-DINENDRA HAZOWARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BHORPUR P.O-JAMBUGURI DIST- KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783360 Page No.# 8/15 34: MANOJ SWARGIARY S/O-LT. DINESH SWARGIARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-NO.3DIHIRA P.O-DIHIRA DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-7813723 35: SIKWNA JWHWLAO NARZARY C/O-MOHILA NARZARY AGED ABNOUT-37 YEARS VILL-JANGSIBARI P.O-AMTEKA BAZAR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783397 36: BIKRAM BASUMATARY S/O-NANDESWAR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-SANTIPUR MAJARA BARI P.O-BARMAZARA DIST-BAKSA BTC ASSAM PIN-783393 37: SUNDARI HAJOWARY C/O-T0HOMAS HAJOWARY AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS VILL-AMRITPUR P.O-RAIMONA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783350 38: DINGA BASUMATARY C/O-RAMESWAR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BALAPARA P.O-TUKRAJHAR DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM Page No.# 9/15 PIN-783394 39: DHANIRAM BASUMATARY S/O-LOMBAR BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-SOUTH GENDARGAON P.O-KASHIKOTRA DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783373 40: RINGKHANG MUSHAHARY C/O-MINISWRANG MUSHAHARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-NO.2SHIALMARI P.O-SERFANGURI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783346 41: SUBUNGSAR BRAHMA S/O-AJIT BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL- NO.2 SHIALMARI P.O-SERFANGURI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783346 42: SUBIR BRAHMA S/O-SUNILAL BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BIKRAMPUR P.O-BENGTOL DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783394 43: ADITYA NARAYAN BASUMATARY S/O-AJOY BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BIKRAMPUR P.O-RANIPUR DIST-CHIRANG Page No.# 10/15 BTC ASSAM PIN-783375 44: RONJILA NARZARY D/O-MONESWAR NARZARY VILL-BURACHARA P.O-KASHIABARI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783360 45: SWGWMSAR BRAHMA S/O-JAYANTA BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-NARAYANPUR P.O-PANBARI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783391 46: GEREMSA BRAHMA S/O-KAMAL BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BORAGARI P.O-DOTMA DIST- KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783347 47: LWMSHAR BRAHMA S/O-PRABIN KUMAR BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SOUTH GHOSHKHATA P.O-BONORGAON DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783347 48: MAYA NARZARY D/O-AJIT KUMAR NARZARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-HABRUBIL P.O-GOSSAIGAON Page No.# 11/15 DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783360 49: ROCKEY NARZARY S/O-HAKIM CH. NARZARY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SRIRAMPUR P.O-RAIMONA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783350 50: SANTHWO MOCHAHARY S/O-BALEN MOCHAHARY AGED ABOUT- 38 VILL-MAKRA PAKRIGURI P.O-KALYAGAON DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783390 51: MWNTINA NARZARY C/O- KEBEN NARZARY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-ANTHAIBARI P.O-BENGTOL DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783394 52: RANU BISHMITH C/O-MODARAM BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-KASHIABARI P.O- KAGRABARI DIST-CHIRANG BTC ASSA PIN-78338 VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 10 ORS. REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, Page No.# 12/15 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 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 Page No.# 13/15 CHIRANG BTR ASSAM PIN783385 9:FOREST RANGE OFFICER RUNIKHATA CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783393 10:FOREST RANGE OFFICER SIDLI RUNIKHATA CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783373 11:FOREST DEPOT OFFICER BASUGAON DEPOT OFFICER PIN-78337 Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A BORO, MS N NEWME,MR H P GUWALA Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, SC, FINANCE,SC, BTC BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SOUMITRA SAIKIA ORDER 25.02 .2026 Heard Mr. A. Boro, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. A. Khaund, learned Standing Counsel, BTC. 2. The case of the petitioners is that due to shortage of manpower between the period of 2006-2007, they have been engaged as casual workers for protection of forest and wildlife under the Division in Chirang District, BTC. Even since their Page No.# 14/15 engagement, they have been working as such till date but have been paid only a meagre 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 decisions 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 of Chirang, BTC. Therefore, 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 petitioners a minimum scale of pay in terms of Upen Das (supra). 4. Mr. A. Khaund, 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 directions passed by the Division Bench of 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 workers since 2007 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 make necessary verification so as to ascertain the entitlement of the benefits of the petitioners to be conferred in terms of Upen Das (supra). The petitioners be afforded the Page No.# 15/15 minimum pay scale as directed note 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. 6. This writ petition accordingly stands disposed of. JUDGE Comparing Assistant