1 CGHC010177852021 2026:CGHC:41213 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 4068 of 2021 Yajit Singh S/o Gajendra Singh Aged About 28 Years R/o Village Jarve (B) Tahsil Baloda Police Station Baloda, Post Office Jarve (B), Civil And Revenue District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh 495668, Mobile No. 7974805464 Email Singhyajit@Gmail.Com --- Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Chief Secretary, Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur 492002 Police Station Rakhi, District Raipur Chhattisgarh Email Csoffice.Cg@Gov.In 2 - Collector And Secretary Jila Stariya Punrvas Samiti Janjgir Champa District Janjgir Champa 495668, Police Station Janjgir District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh Email.Collector-Jgr.Cg@Gov.In 3 - Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Kampani Maryadit Through Chief Engineer (H.R.), Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Kampani Maryadit Shed No. 03, Danganiya, Raipur 492013, Police Station D. D. Nagar, District Raipur Chhattisgarh Emai. Hr.Cspdcl@Cspc.Co.In SHOAIB ANWAR Digitally signed by SHOAIB ANWAR Date: 2026.09.23 10:10:16 +0530 2 4 - Chief Engineer (Porduction) Atal Bihari Vajpeyee Tap Vidyut Grih, Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited, Madwa, Post Office Vidyut Nagar, Lachanpur Police Station Naila, Janjgir 495669, District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh Email. Edmarwa.Cspdcl@Gmail .Com 5 - Executive Director (Hr) Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Vitran Kampani Maryadit, Vidyut Sewa Bhawan, Danganiya, Police Station D. D. Nagar, Raipur 942013, District Raipur Chhattisgarh Emai. Hr.Cspdcl@Cspc.Co.In 6 - General Manager (Hr) Chhattisgarh State Holding Company, Limited, Vidyut Sewa Bhawan, Danganiya, Police Station D. D. Nagar, Raipur 942013, District Raipur Chhattisgarh Emai. Hr2dgm.Csphcl@Cspc.Co.In/hr.Csphcl@Cspc.Co.In --- Respondent(s) WPS No. 4979 of 2021 Ravishankar Sahu S/o Dhanuram Sahu Aged About 37 Years Gram- Jarve(B), Tehsil- Baloda, Police Station- Baloda, Post Office- Jarve(B), Civil Evam Rajaswa, District- Janjgir- Champa, Janjgir- 495669, Chhattisgarh, Mob- 9993420566 E-Mail- Ravilic32@Gmail.Com, District : Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh ---Petitioner(s) Versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Mukhya Sachiv, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur, Raipur- 492002, Thana, Rakhi, 3 District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh. E-Mail- Csoffice.Cg@Gov.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 2 - Collector And Sachiv Jila Stariya Punarvas Samiti Janjgir- Champa, District- Janjgir- Champa, 495668, Police Station- Janjgir- Chmapa, Chhattisgarh. E-Mail- Collector-Jgr.Cg@Gov.In, District : Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh 3 - Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Company Maryadit Dwara Mukhya Abhiyanta( M. Ss), Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Company Maryadit, Shade No. 03, Danganiya, Raipur- 492013, Thana- D.D. Nagar, Jila- Raipur, Chhattisgarh. E-Mail- Hr.Cspgcl@Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 4 - Mukhya Abhiyanta (Utpadan) Atal Bihari Vajpayee Taap Vidyut Grih, Chhattisgarh Power Generation Company Limited, Madwa, Post Officer- Vidyut Nagar, Lachanpur, Thana- Naila, Janjgir- 495669, Jila- Janjgir- Champa, Chhattisgarh. E-Mail- Edmarwa.Cspgcl@Gmail.Com, District : Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh 5 - Karyapalak Nideshak (Manav Mansadhan) Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Vitran Company Maryadit, Vidyut Sewa Bhawan, Danganiya, Thana- D.D.Nagar, Raipur- 492013, Jila- Raipur, Chhattisgarh. E-Mail- Hr.Cspdcl@Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 6 - Mahaprabandhak (Manav Sansadhan) Chhattisgarh State Power Holding Company Limited, Vidyut Sewa Bhawan, Danganiya, 4 Thana- D.D. Nagar, Raipur- 492013, Zila- Raipur, Chhattisgarh. E- Mail- Hr2dgm.Csphcl@Gmail.Com/hr.Csphcl@Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh --- Respondent(s) WPS No. 5017 of 2021 Nagesh Kumar Yadav S/o Shri Sadhram Yadav Aged About 34 Years Gram-Lachanpur, Police Station- Janjgir, Post Office- Vidyut Nagar, Lachanpur, Civil And Revenue District- Janjgir- Champa, Janjgir- 495669, Chhattisgarh., District : Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh ---Petitioner(s) Versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Mukhya Sachiv, Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur, Raipur- 492002 Thana- Rakhi, Jila- Raipur, Chhattisgarh E-Mail- Csoffice.Cg@Gov.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 2 - Collector Evam Sachiv Jila Stariya Punarvas Samiti, Janjgir- Champa, Jila- Janjgir- 495668, Thana- Janjgir, Jila- Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh, E-Mail- Collector-Jgr.Cg@Gov.In, District : Janjgir- Champa, Chhattisgarh 3 - Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Company Maryadit Through Mukhya Abhiyanta(M. Ss), Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Company Maryadit, Shade No.- 03, Danganiya, Raipur- 492013, 5 Thana- D.D. Nagar, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh. E-Mail- Hr.Cspgci@Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 4 - Mukhya Abhiyanta (Utpadan) Atal Bihari Vajpayee Taap Vidyut Grih Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited, Madwa, Post Office- Vidyut Nagar, Lachanpur, Thana- Janjgir, Janjgir- 495669, District- Janjgir- Champa, Chhattisgarh. E-Mail- Edmarwa.Cspgci@Gmail.Com, District : Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh 5 - Karyapalak Nideshak( Manav Sansadhan ), Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Vitran Company Maryadit, Vidyut Sewa Bhawan, Danganiya, Thana- D.D. Nagar, Raipur- 492013, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh. E- Mail- Hr.Cspdcl@Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 6 - Mahaprabandhak (Manav Sansadhan) Chhattisgarh State Power Holding Company Limited, Vidyut Sewa Bhawan, Danganiya, Thana- D.D. Nagar, Raipur- 492013, District-Raipur, Chhattisgarh. E- Mail- Hr2dgm.Csphcl@Gmail.Com/ Hr.Csphcl@Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh --- Respondent(s) WPS No. 4779 of 2021 1 - Abhijit Kumar Patle S/o Vijay Kumar Patle, Gram Jarve (B), Tahsil Baloda, Police Thana - Baloda, Post Office Jarve (B), Civil Awam Rajasv Jila Janjgir Champa, Janjgir 495668, Chhattsgarh Mobile No. 8818813417 Email Patleyabhijeet@Gmail.Com, District : Janjgir- Champa, Chhattisgarh 6 ---Petitioner(s) Versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Mukhya Sachiv, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur, Raipur 492002, Thana Rakhi, Jila Raipur Chhattisgarh Email-Csoffice.Cg@Gov.In., District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 2 - Collector Awam Sachiv Jila Stariya Punarwas Samiti, Janjgir Champa, Jila Janjgir 495668, Thana Janjgir Jila Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh Email Collector-Jgr.Cg@Gov.In, District : Janjgir- Champa, Chhattisgarh 3 - Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Utapadan Company Maryadit Through Mukhya Abhiyanta (Ma.Sansa.) Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Utapadan Company Maryadit, Shed Kramank 03, Daganiya, Raipur, 492013, Thana D.D. Nagar, Jila Raipur Chhattisgarh Email - Hr.Cspgcl@Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 4 - Mukhya Abhiyanta (Utapadan) Atal Bihari Bajpai Tap Vidyut Grah Chhattisgarh State Power Genaration Company Ltd. Madwa, Post Office Vidyut Nagar, Lachchanpur Thana Naila, Janjgir 495669, Jila Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh Emai -Edmarwa.Cspgcl@Gmail.Com, District : Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh 5 - Karyapalak Nideshak (Manav Sansadhan) Chhattisgarh Rajya Vidyut Vitaran Company Maryadit, Vidyut Sewa Bhawan Daganiya, 7 Thana D.D. Nagar, Raipur 492013, Jila Raipur Chhattisgarh. Emai.Hr.Cspdcl@Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 6 - Mahaprabandhak (Manav Sansadhan) Chhattisgarh State Power Holding Company Ltd. Vidyut Sewa Bhawan Daganiya, Thana D.D. Nagar, Raipur 492013, Jila Raipur Chhattisgarh Email- Hr2dgm.Csphcl@Gmail.Com/hr.Csphcl@.Cspc.Co.In, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh --- Respondent(s) (Cause title taken from CIS) For Petitioners in person : Shri Yajit Singh, Shri Nagesh Kumar Yadav, Shri Ravishankar Sahu and Shri Abhijeet Kumar Patle, Petitioners in person For Respondent no. 1 & 2 : Shri Sangharsh Pandey, Advocate For Respondent nos. 3 to 6 : Shri Abhishek Sinha, Senior Advocate along with Shri Ghanshyam Patel, Hon'ble Shri Bibhu Datta Guru , Judge Order on Board 22.09.2026 1. Since common facts and grounds are involved in all the petitions, they are being considered and decided by this common order. For the sake of convenience, the facts and pleadings of WPS No.4068 of 2021 are being referred. 8 2. The case of the petitioners is that the lands belonging to the respective petitioners have been acquired by the respondent authorities for construction of 2 X 500 MW Atal Vihari Vajpayee Thermal Power Plant. In the said land acquisition proceedings, after due veification the compensation has been assessed and awarded in favour of the petitioners by the Land Acquisition Officer. Thereafter, the cases of the respective petitioners, being the Project Affected Persons (PAPs), have been considered for grant of employment under the Model Rehabilitation Policy, 2007 of the State of Chhattisgarh and they have been granted the appointment on the post of Line Attendant (Contract). By these petitions, the petitioners seek appointment on regular basis. Thus these petitions. 3. (a) The petitioners would submit that in case of similarly situated persons, whose lands were acquired for the very same project were granted regular appointment. However, the said benefit has not been extended to the petitioners, despite the fact that they are also similarly affected by the land acquisition. They would submit that denial of regular appointment, while granting regular appointment to the 9 other PAPs is arbitrary, discriminatory and contrary to the principles of fairness and legitimate expectation. Thus the respondent authorities may be directed to grant regular appointment in favour of the petitioners instead of contractual appointment. (b) According to petitioners, the impugned action on the part of the respondent authorities is contrary to the provisions of Clauses 11.2.2 and 11.2.3 of the Model Rehabilitation Policy 2007. He would submit that the contractual appointment cannot be treated as employment as has been enshrined under Clause 11.2.2. Thus the impugned action is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. 4. (I) On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the respondents would oppose the submission made on behalf of the petitioners. He would submit that the petitioners have already been provided employment as a land oustees in accordance with the applicable policies on contractual basis to the post of Line Attendant for a period of three years and after annual evolution, the said appointment will be extended by one year each. He would submit that in compliance of the said appointment order the petitioners have joined at their 10 respective places of posting and as such nothing remains in these petitions for adjudication at this juncture. (II) According to the learned counsel for the respondent, since all the sanctioned and approved posts earmarked for providing regular appointment to PAPs have already been filed up, therefore the petitioners could not be granted appointment against the regular posts, however considering the cases of the petitioners sympathetically they have been provided the employment on contractual basis. Thus, the respondents have not acted arbitrarily or discriminately in offering contractual appointment to the petitioners. (III) Learned counsel for the respondents by referring to Annexure R/1 submits that all the petitioners were initially appointed in the year 2016 by the CSPDCL on the post of Line Attendant (Contract) and subsequently appointed as Junior Attendant (Contract) vide order dated 19.05.2026, by the CSPGCL pursuant to the Rehabilitation Policy, 2007 and the Revised Rehabilitation Scheme, 2015, approved by the Government of Chhattisgarh. Though the said appointment is on contractual basis, but the same would be extended till attaining the age of superannuation. He submits that Clause 11 11.2.2 of the Policy provides for giving priority to PAPs and that the said provision is required to be read with Clause 7.1. (IV) Learned counsel submits that the issue involved in the present petition has already been considered and decided by this Court vide order dated 17.09.2026 passed in WPS No. 6811/2026, titled as Surya Prakash v. State of Chhattisgarh & Another, along with connected matter. 5. I have heard the petitioners in person as well as learned counsel appearing for the respondents and perused the documents appended with the petitions. 6. As far as the contention of the petitioner regarding 11.2.2 and 11.2.3 of the policy, by which the petitioners are stating that the beneficial company for whom the land has been acquired is required to grant regular appointment is concerned, the Clause 11.2.2 and 11.2.3 has to be read with Clause 7.1. As far as the Clause 11.2.2 and 11.2.3 are concerned, the same refers the irregular appointment whereas, in the case of the petitioners Annexure R/1 dated 19.05.2026 is the order of the appointment, by which the petitioners have been provided employment is concerned, the same reflects that the contractual appointment shall initially be made for a period of 12 three years and, subject to the employee’s work performance and efficiency shall be extended for successive periods of one year each, based on an annual assessment and recommendation, until attaining the age of superannuation. Clause 3 of the appointment order dated 19.5.2026 reads thus : संविदा वियु क्ति प्रथम 03 र्ष हे ए कार्मिमका का कायु का शल ए दाक्ष का आधार पर प्रत्युका र्ष उका र्षिर्षका म$ल्युका कार अ शसं उपर क्रमश एक - एक वर्ष बढ़ाते हुए अर्द्धवर्षिर्षक आयु पूर्ण होने तेक क लिए मान्यु होगी। 7. For the sake of convenience Clauses 7.1, 11.2.2 and 11.2.3 of the Model Rehabilitation Policy, 2007 is quoted below: 7. रोजगीरो तेथा अन्यु सुविवधाए&:- 7.1 र)जगार का पत्र ऐसं प्रत्युका विस्थाविप परिरर का) हे)गा0 ज) भू$- अज अधिधावियुम का धार 4(1) का अधिधासं$च का प्रकाश का र0ख का 0 र्ष प$ सं स्त्र रूप सं यु संयु परिरर का रूप म7 अधिधागा8विहे भू$धिम का भू$धिम स्म0 यु पट्टेदार रहे हे:। णि<क्ति=युका परिरयु)जओं का लिलए भू$- अज सं प्रभूवि ऐसं विस्थाविप परिरर: जिजका 75 प्रविश सं अधिधाका भू$धिम अर्जिज हे), का एका संदास्यु का) थ औद्यो)विगाका/ ख परिरयु)जओं का लिलयु भू$- अज सं प्रभूवि प्रत्युका विस्थाविप परिरर क एक सुदस्यु क उनेक अहोते तेथा उपूयुक्तेते 13 क अनेसुरो पूरिरोयुजने क वि,युन्वयुने करोने द एज न्सु / सु&स्थाने द्वारो रोजगीरो क व्यवस्था क जएगी। (अ) परिरयु)ज का कायुD म7 र)जगार दा संमयु परिरयु)ज विस्थाविप परिरर: का) प्रथधिमका दाE जएगा0 । (ब) परिरयु)ज म7 पत्र लिशणिक्ष यु का: का) बहेर र)जगार दा का लिलए उका, शGक्षणि<का यु)ग्यु का अ संर प्रलिशक्ष< का व्यस्था का जएगा0 । (सं) शसंकायु विभूगा / संजविका उपक्रम का परिरयु)ज का लिलए भू$- अज सं विस्थाविप ऐसं व्यक्तियु: जिजन्हे7 र)जगार का पत्र हे), का) श्रे<0 का पदा: पर वियु क्ति हे आयु सं0म म7 2 र्ष का छू$ट दाE जएगा0 । (दा) परिरयु)ज सं विस्थाविप परिरर: का) लभूजका कायु उपलब्ध कार का लिलयु आश्युका प्रलिशक्ष< दा का लिलए विशर्ष व्यस्था का जएगा0 । XXXXX 11.2 औद्योविगीक / खविनेज पूरिरोयुजनेए&:- xxxxx 11.2.2 परिरयु)ज सं प्रभूवि का8 र्षका: का ममल म7 अवियुधिम, आकास्मिस्मका र)जगार यु मजदूर0 का रूप म7 काम का असंर: का) जिजन्दागा0 बसंर कार का Gकाक्तिल्पका आधार अथ र)जगार हेR म जएगा । परिरयु)ज का वियुधिम पदा: म7 र=यु का औद्यो)विगाका 0वि म7 र=यु का अहेप्रप् विलिसंयु: का) र)जगार उपलब्ध कार संबधा0 प्रधा: का अ पल हे विम् संर प्रथधिमकाए रख0 जएगा0: 14 (i) परिरयु)ज सं प्रभूवि व्यक्ति, (ii) परिरयु)ज का प्रभू क्षत्र का विसं0 अन्यु व्यक्ति, (iii) र=यु म7 विसं कार ल अन्यु व्यक्ति. 11.2.3 औद्यो)विगाका थ ख परिरयु)ज का विक्रयुन्यु कार ल संस्था द्वार युदिदा विज0 भू$धिम का काब्ज ल का 2 र्ष का कालधिधा का भू0र ( पहेल परिरयु)ज का विम< कायुD म7 थ परिरयु)ज का चल$ हे) ज का बदा परिरयु)ज म7) र)जगार उपलब्ध हेR कारयु ज हेG, ) संस्था द्वार र)ज़गार का लिलए पत्र प्रत्युका परिरर का एका व्यक्ति का) अहे का अ रुप दिदायु ज ल र)जगार सं प्रप् हे) ल0 रलिश का संम ल्यु रलिश, यु र)जगार गारटE यु)ज का हे दायु रलिश, ज) भू0 अधिधाका हे), बगाGर काम का ब का भू गा का जएगा0, जब का विका वियुधिम र)जगार का व्यस्था हे) जए। xxxx 8. From a plain reading of Clause 7.1 of the Model Rehabilitation Policy, 2007, it is evident that the policy provides for arranging ‘employment’ to one member of each eligible displaced family, subject to his qualification and suitability. The said provision gives priority to Project Affected Persons (PAPs) and also contemplates training and relaxation in age, wherever applicable. However, the policy does not stipulate that the employment so provided to a land oustee must 15 necessarily be on a regular or permanent post. Thus, the expression “employment” used in the policy cannot, in the absence of any specific stipulation, be construed to mean only regular/permanent employment. While deciding the matter in respect of grant of employment the clauses 11.2.2 and 11.2.3 are to be read with Clause 7.1 of the Model Rehabilitation Policy, 2007, which provides for grant of employment. In fact, in Clause 11.2.2 only the criteria has been prescribed as to who is entitled for the employment. It is an admitted fact that the petitioners are the PAPs and as such their case covers under this Clause. 9. In this regard, reference may also be made to the meaning of the expression “employment” as contained in Black's Law Dictionary, wherein “employment” has been defined as the “act of employing or state of being employed” and also as “Work for which one has been hired and is being paid by an employer.” The definition, therefore, does not, by itself, import any requirement that the employment must be permanent. 10. In the present case, admittedly, the petitioners have been offered employment as the land oustee vide order dated 19.05.2026 on the post of Junior Attendant on contractual 16 basis for an initial period of three years, with the stipulation regarding renewal till the age of superannuation. The respondents have explained that the sanctioned and approved posts earmarked for providing regular employment to the land oustees of the project had already been filled up. 11. Merely because certain other land oustees were granted appointment on regular posts the petitioners cannot claim regular appointment as an indefeasible right. The appointments made earlier have to be considered in the factual and administrative circumstances prevailing at that point of time, particularly with regard to the availability of sanctioned posts. The petitioners cannot claim parity in perpetuity merely on the basis of such earlier appointments, particularly when the respondents have specifically stated that the posts earmarked for regular employment had already been exhausted. 12. It is also significant that Clause 7.1 of the Model Rehabilitation Policy, 2007 uses the expression “ र)जगार का व्यस्था का जएगा0" and does not use the expressions “regular employment”, “permanent employment” or “appointment against a regular sanctioned post”. Therefore, this Court 17 cannot read into the policy a condition which is not contained therein. The contractual appointment offered to the petitioners, if otherwise in accordance with the applicable policy and the terms of the appointment order, cannot be held to be contrary to the Model Rehabilitation Policy merely because it is not a regular appointment. 13. In view of the aforesaid discussion, this Court finds that the petitioners have been provided the benefit of employment as the land oustee in terms of the applicable policy. No enforceable right to seek appointment on a regular/ permanent post of Plant Attendant Grade-II has been established. Consequently, the challenge to the contractual nature of the appointment and the prayer for grant of regular appointment cannot be accepted. 14. From bare reading of the above, it is manifest that the CG R&R Policy does not confer an absolute right to employment. It contemplates consideration for employment, subject to availability of posts, failing which alternative benefits may be granted. 15. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of Haryana v. Naresh Kumar Bali, (1994) 4 SCC 448, has observed that no 18 mandamus can be issued directing the State or its instrumentalities to create posts or provide employment de hors the statutory framework. 16. Accordingly, all the writ petitions, being devoid of merit, are dismissed. No cost(s). Sd/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) Judge Shoaib