Page No.# 1/21 GAHC010029882026 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/1014/2026 UTTAM KR BASUMATARY AND 79 ORS. S/O-LT. SAMESWAR BASUMATARY, VILL-TILOKGAON, P.O-TILOKGAON, DIST- CHIRANG, BTC, ASSAM, PIN- 783372 2: KARDINEL RABHA S/O-UDAY CHANDRA RABHA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BORSHIJHORA PT-I P.O.-BORSHIJHORA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783339 3: RAMEN CH BARMAN S/O-KARENDRA CH. BARMAN AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-RAJAPARA P.O.-BAGRIBARI DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783349 4: TARANI KANTA RAY S/O-NATHU RAM RAY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-DHORARGHAT P.O.-SAHEBGANJ DIST-DHUBIR ASSAM PIN -783331 5: SANJIB KR RAY S/O-BACHYA RAY Page No.# 2/21 AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-NAICHERKUTI P.O.-SAHEBGANJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN -783331 6: SAHADEB KARMAKAR S/O-LT. JITEN CH. KARMAKAR AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-DUMARDAHA PT-IV P.O.-KACHARIHAT DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783334 7: BIKASH CHANDRA ROY S/O-JAJNESWAR ROY AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-SOULMARI P.O.-KACHARIHAT DIST-DHUBRI BTC ASSAM PIN -783334 8: MRIGEN CH ROY 1.S/O-SUBHASH CHANDRA ROY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SOULMARI P.O-KACHARIHAT DIST-DHUBRI PIN-783334 9: ARUP SHIL S/O-JATINDRA NATH SHIL AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SUKHATIKHATA P.I-RUPSHI DIST-DHUBRI PIN-783334 10: UDAY KR ADHIKARY S/O-JOGESH CH. ADHIKARY AGED ABOUT-41 YEARS VILL-UTTARMORA GADHADHAR P.O-MARAGADHAR DIST-DHUBRI Page No.# 3/21 PIN-783335 11: SASHI BHUSHAN RAY S/O-KHUSHU RAM RAY AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-GHARIALDANGA PT-II P.O-AGAMONI DIST-DHUBRI PIN-78335 12: NUR ISLAM S/O-ABDUL MAJID SK AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-DARCHUKA PT-I P.O-SILAIRPAR DIST-DHUBRI PIN-783331 13: HEMONTA RAY S/O-NIROD CH. RAY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL- DUMARDAHA PT-II P.O-BALAJAN DIST-DHUBRI PIN-783331 14: DILIP KUMAR RAY S/O-HEMANTA KUMAR RAY AGED ABOUT-50 YEARS VILL-KURIRPAR P.O-DEBOTTAAR HASDAHA DIST-DHUBRI PIN-783334 15: MAHANANDA RAY S/O-BIRENDRA NATH RAY AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-KURIRPAR P.O-DEBOTTAR HASDAHA DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783334 16: BHUPENDRA RABHA S/O-SONARAM AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-MARSHULJHORA-PT-II P.O-LALMATITUMBAGAN Page No.# 4/21 DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783332 17: RANJIT MAHATO S/O-SANKAR MAHATO AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS VILL-RUPSHI PT-I P.O-RUPSHI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783331 18: UMAKANTA RABHA S/O-DUKHESWAR RABHA AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-MOLANDUBI P.O-MOLANDUBIR DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 19: BIJIT KR BRAHMA S/O-PRAFULLA BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BASHBARI P.O-BASHBARI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783337 20: DHANANJOY BRAHMA S/O-NABA KR. BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-MALOTIJHORA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM P.O-BANYAGURI PIN-783331 21: NELSON BRAHMA S/O-TENDON BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS Page No.# 5/21 VILL-MALOTIJHORA DIST-KOKRAJHAR P.O-BANYAGURI ASSAM PIN-783331 22: DINENDRA RABHA S/O-ARABINDA RABHA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-NAMDANI MODATI DIST- KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM P.O-KHOPATI PIN-783339 23: UKIL CHANDRA RAY S/O-SANIRAM RAY AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-JOLDOBA PT-II P.O-PAGLAHAT DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783334 24: BIDIK KR RABHA S/O-LATE SADHIRAM AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-MODATI PT-V P.O-KHOPATI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783339 25: JANESWAR RABHA SO/O-NARAYAN RABHA AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL- MODATI PT-III P.O-KOPATI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783339 26: GOSWAMI RABHA S/O-NIRENDRA NATH RABHA Page No.# 6/21 AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-MODATI PAHAR BASTI PT-II P.O-KOPATI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783339 27: RAMANANDA RABHA S/O-LATE ANYARYYA RABHA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-MODATI PT-IV P.O-KOPATI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783339 28: GREWITSON SANGMA S/O-JITENDRA NATH MARAK AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-SILTOKA PT-II P.O-MOLANDUBI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783334 29: ABDUL ROHIMMOLLAH S/O-SAMAD ALI AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-JANGIRKILLA PT-I P.O-MAKRIJHORA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783349 30: RAKIDUL ISLAM S/O-MOZIAL HOQUE AGD ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BARGIRAIPAR P.O-BARKANDA DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783348 31: MONOWAR HUSSAIN Page No.# 7/21 S/O-JABER ALI AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-GHAHBARI P.O-GHASHBARI DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783348 32: PIPTY BRAHMA S/O-RANKARSING BRAHMA AGED ABEOUT-37 YEARS VILL-JALAIGAON P.O-BASBARI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783337 33: MD JAHANGIR ALAM 33. S/O-SAMSUL HOQUE AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-KISHMAT HASDAHA PT-III P.O-KISHMAT HASDAHA DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783334 34: BIKASH CH RAY S/O-SANTOSH KR. RAY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-LALKURA P.O-SAHEBGANJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN- 783331 35: SAHADAT ALI S/O-LATE RAIJUDDIN SK. AGED ABOUT-52 YEARS VILL-BHALUKMARI BAKASPARA P.O-LAKHIGANJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783345 36: SAMREN BORO S/O-SANIRAM BORO Page No.# 8/21 AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-MALAGURI P.O-SASHAR GAON DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783345 37: RAJIB KUMAR RABHA S/O-SATYA KR. RABHA AGED ABOUT-45 YEARS VILL-MARSHUMJHORA P.O-LALMATI TUMBAGAN DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783332 38: RAJESH KOCH S/O-BISHADU KOCH AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-NO-1 JALLESWARI P.O-JALESWARI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783350 39: AJMAT ALI S/O-NURUL HOQUE AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-ALDUJHAR PT-I P.O-HAKAMA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783348 40: NAZRUL ISLAM S/O-GIAS UDDIN SHEIKH AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL- SALMARA PT-V P.O-BONDIHANA DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783349 41: ROSHIDUL HOQUE Page No.# 9/21 S/O-JAMAL UDDIN AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-NOICHARDHAP P.O-BOGIRBARI DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783349 42: KOSER ALI S/O-RAHAM ALI AGED ABOUT-48 YEARS VILL-BANIAMARI PT-VI P.O-MAKRIJHORA DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783349 43: ABU BOKKAR SIDDIQUE S/O-HABEJ UDDIN SHEIKH AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-LALKURA PT-II P.O-SAHEBGANJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783331 44: OMOR FARUK S/O-HAFEJ UDDIN SK. AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL- LALKURA PT -II P.O-SAHEBGANJ DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783331 45: DILIP RAY S/O-BIRAJ MAHAN RAY AGED ABOUT-45 YEARS VILL- RUPSHI PT-II P.O-RUPSHI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783331 46: SADDAM HUSSAIN S/O-LT. JOYNAL MANDAL AGED ABOUT-37 YEAR Page No.# 10/21 VILL- SIMLABARI P.O-PUTKIBARI DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783345 47: AIJUL HOQUE S/O-MOHED ALI AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-RAJAPARA P.O-BOGRIBARI DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783349 48: NIRESH BASUMATARY S/O-KEMLAL BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-JANAGAON TITAGURI PT-II P.O-TITAGURI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN- 783370 49: PULUNG BASUMATARY S/O-TIJENDRA BASUMATARY AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-NORTH GHASHKATA P.O-BONORGAON DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783347 50: SANIDUL HOQUE S/O-JAYNAL ABEDIN AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL- RUPSHI PT-II P.O-RUPSHI DIST- KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN- 783331 51: MOZIBAR RAHMAN 51.S/O-MINARUDDIN SK. AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS Page No.# 11/21 VILL-KUARPAR P.O-JALABILA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 52: SHYAMAL CH ROY S/O-SURESH CH. ROY AGED ABOUT-36 YEARS VILL-BANIAMARI P.O-SAHEBGANJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783331 53: SANJIT KR ROY S/O-DHIRENDRA NATHROY AGED ABOUT-37YEARS VILL-BANIAMARI P.O-SAHEBGANJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN- 783331 54: RADHA KANTA ROY S/O-JATIN CH. ROY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BANIAMARI P.O-SAHEBGANJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN- 783331 55: BIPUL KUMAR ROY S/O-ADHIR CHANDRA ROY AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BANIAMARI P.O-SAHEBGANJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN- 783331 56: UTPAL ROY S/O-PUSHPENDRA ROY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BAMUNGAON P.O- SILGARA Page No.# 12/21 DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783348 57: KRISHNA KANTA RAY S/O-ANIL CHANDRA ROY AGED ABOUT-45 YEARS VILL-RUPSHI PT-II P.O-RUPSHI DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783331 58: DEDODEEP ROY S/O-DIPAK ROY AGE ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-GAURIPUR W/NO.1 P.O- GAURIPUR DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783331 59: DHANESWAR RABHA S/O-SHYAMLAL RABHA AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-MALANDUBI P.O.- MALANDUBI DIST- KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783332 60: SHYAMAL CHANDRA ADHIKARY S/O-DULAL CHANDRA ADHIKARY AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS VILL-SOUTH RAIPUR PT-I P.O-GALAKGANJ DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783334 61: DENA KR RABHA S/O-SAMBHU SARAN RABHA AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-BARSHIJHORA P.O- BARSHIJHORA DIST- KOKRAJHAR Page No.# 13/21 BTC ASSAM PIN-783339 62: BISWAJIT MONDAL S/O-ALOKASH MANDOL AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-KALDOBA PT-II P.O-AGOMARI DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783335 63: AZIZUR RAHMAN S/O-LT. AKABHAS ALI AGED ABOUT- 40 YEARS VILL-BHASANIGAON P.O-LAKHIGAJ DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783345 64: RATAN RAY S/O-BUDHESHWAR ROY AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-LAKHIMARI PT-II P.O-LAKHIMARI DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783334 65: ASRAFUL ALOM S/O-JAYMAL ABEDIN AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-LOSIRAMAHAL PT-II P.O-BORKANDA DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783348 66: NARESH CH ROY S/0-SACHINDRA NATH ROY AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-RUPSHI PT-III DIST- KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783331 Page No.# 14/21 67: JAYANTA CHANDRA BARMAN S/O-RABI CHANDRA BARMAN AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-PALAKATA PT-I P.O-JALABILA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783348 68: BIPUL DAS S/O-AKSHAY KUMAR DAS AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILLBARBILA P.O-MANIKPUR DIST-BONGAIGAON ASSAM PIN- 781308 69: MAJU BRAHMA S/O-GIREN BRAHMA AGED ABOUT- 40 YEARS VILL-2 NO. MALIPARA P.O-NEHSU BAZAR DIST- CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN- 793393 70: SAFIAR RAHMAN S/O-SOKKOR ALI AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BORGHOLA P.O-HATIPOTA DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783348 71: JASMAT ALI S/O-ABUL HUSSAIN AGED ABOUT-38 YEARS VILL-SRIGRAM PT-6 P.O-HATIPOTA DIST- DHUBRI ASSSAM PIN-783348 Page No.# 15/21 72: SOHIDUL ISLAM S/O-RUPCHARI ALI AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-SRIGRAM PT 6 P.O-HATIPOTA DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783348 73: PULAK KR MAZUMDAR S/O-ANUR MOZUMDER AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-NORTH TAKARCHASANT PT-I P.O-GOLAKGANJ DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783334 74: UPEN CHANDRA SEN S/O-NARESH CHANDRA SEN AGED ABOUT-40 YEARS VILL-DAWBHANGI P.O-RUPSHI DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783331 75: SHAHAJAMAL HOQUE S/O-SAMSUL HOQUE AGED ABOUT-42 YEARS VILL-MATIABUG P.O-GAURIPUR DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM PIN-783331 76: BHABOJIT BORO S/O-SUNIRAM BORO AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-MALAGURI P.O-SARARGAON DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN- 783127 77: KAMAKHYA ROY Page No.# 16/21 S.O-BANINDRA CHANDRA ROY AGED ABOUT-38YEARS VILL-BHAISHPARA P.O-SARARGAON DIST-DHUBRI ASSAM PIN- 783127 78: JAKIR HUSSAIN S/O-BUDDIN SHEIKH AGED ABOUT-39 YEARS VILL-CHAKRASILA P.O- SILGARA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783348 79: AKRAMUL SARKAR S/O-ASHAD HUSSAIN AGED ABOUT-44 YEARS VILL-SALBARI P.O-SILGARA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783348 80: DWITUN BRAHMA S/O-SI MANIK BRAHMA AGED ABOUT-37 YEARS VILL-BORSHIJHARA P.O-DOTMA P.S-DOTMA DIST-KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783347 VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 17 ORS. REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, ASSAM, GUWAHATI- 6 2:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST Page No.# 17/21 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 COUNCIL HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREST KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 6:THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 7:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER HALTUGAON DIVISION GOSSAIGAON BTC ASSAM PIN-783350 8:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER PARBATJHORA DIVISION KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783337 9:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER WILDLIFE DIVISION Page No.# 18/21 KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 10:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER CHIRANG KAJALGAON DIVISION BTC ASSAM PIN-783385 11:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER KHORAGHAT RANGE KHORAGHAT KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783348 12:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER CENTRAL RANGE KACHUGAON KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783350 13:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER DIPLAI RANGE KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 14:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER GUMA RANGE KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783360 15:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER Page No.# 19/21 CHAKRASHILA WILDLIFE RANGE KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783370 16:THE FOREST DEPOT OFFICER BASUGAON CHIRANG BTC ASSAM PIN-783372 17:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER RUPSHI RANGE KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-783331 18:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER TRAMWAY RANGE KACHUGAON KOKRAJHAR BTC ASSAM PIN-78335 Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A BORO, MS N NEWME,MR H P GUWALA Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, SC, BTC,SC, FINANCE 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. Page No.# 20/21 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 different Divisions in Kokrajhar and Chirang District, BTC. Even since their 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 Kokrajhar and 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). Page No.# 21/21 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 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