Page No.# 1/12 GAHC010285762025 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/2423/2026 KAMAL KALITA AND 55 ORS S/O- SARAT KALITA, VILL- UTTAR GANDHI BARI, P.O- GANDHIBARI, P.S- TAMULPUR, DIST- BAKSA, ASSAM 2: NOBJYATI RAY S/O-LATE. AJIT RAY VILL- GHARA BANDHA P.O- CHAPAR P.S- CHAPAR DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM 3: SRI RUHUL AMIN S/O- AJMAL ALI VILL-BAGARSHANGAN P.O- KANAI BAZAR DIST- KARIMGANJ 4: SRI SAHAB UDDIN LASKAR S/O- FATIR ALI LASKAR VILL-SALCHAPARA PART-1 P.O- SALCHAPARA DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. 5: SRI JOGDISH PRASAD S/O- NAGLAL PRASAD VILL-PIPARIYA P.O- SAPAHI DIST- EAST CHAPMARAN BIHAR. 6: SRI SHADIK UDDIN S/O-EKLAS UDDIN Page No.# 2/12 VILL- LAKHIPUR P.O- JURBARI DIST-KARIMGANJ ASSAM 7: SRI GOPI MOHAN SINGHA S/O- SHASHI MOHAN SINGHA VILL- BIHARA P.O- BIHARABAZAR DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 8: SRI ABDUL JABBAR S/O- ABDUL SAHID VILL- JURBARI P.O- JURBARI DIST-KARIMGANJ ASSAM 9: SRI ARIF HUSSAIN S/O- NAZIM UDDIN VILL- JURBARI P.O- JURBARI DIST-KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 10: KARABI DUTTA D/O- KHAGEN DUTTA VILL- BARGANDUBI P.O- BANGAON DIST- BARPETA ASSAM 11: SRI MONSUR HUSSAIN S/O- - NAZIM UDDIN VILL- JURBARI P.O- JURBARI DIST-KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 12: SRI SHIBANI SUKLABAIDYA S/O- PARIMAL SUKLABAIDYA VILL-LAKHIPUR P.O-JURBARI DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 13: HRIDAY DAS Page No.# 3/12 S/O- LATE. RAMESH DAS VILL- KHOKAPARA P.O- BIJOY NAGAR P.S- PALASHBARI DIST- KAMRUP ASSAM. 14: SRI ANWAR HUSSAIN S/O- AZIR UDDIN VILL- JURBARI P.O- JURBARI DIST-KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 15: SRI SAHAJ UDDIN S/O- ABDUL SALAM VILL- JURBARI P.O- JURBARI DIST-KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 16: TARINI DAS S/O- LATE. RABI RAM DAS VILL- GUIMARA P.O- NAHIRA P.S- PALASHBARI DIST- KAMRUP ASSAM. 17: SRI BADRUL HOQUE S/O-ILAS ALI VILL- JURBARI P.O- JURBARI DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM 18: SRI SULEMAN ALI S/O- LIAS ALI VILL- PURANCHANPUR P.O-JURBARI DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM 19: KALPANA RAY S/O- LATE. DEBEN RAY VILL-KAJIPARA P.O- CHAPAR P.S- CHAPAR Page No.# 4/12 DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM. 20: SRI FAKRUL HUSSAIN S/O- AZIR UDDIN VILL- JURBARI P.O-JURBARI DIST-KARIMGANJ ASSAM 21: ABUL KALAM AZAD S/O- SHARIF HUSSAIN VILL- JAKIALA P.O- ERALIGOOL DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 22: MD KABIR HUSSAIN S/O- MD ABDUR RAHMAN VILL- ALAKULIPUR P.O- BADARPURGHAT DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 23: BULBUL HUSSAIN TAPADAR S/O- ABDUR NUR TAPADAR VILL- LAKHIPUR PART 2 P.O- KALAIN DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 24: PRABIR SUKLABAIDYA S/O- PORIMAL SUKLABAIDYA VILL- LAKSHMIPUR P.O- JURBARI DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 25: MOHAN CH DAS S/O- LATE. DEBI RAM DAS VILL- NAHIRA P.O- NAHIRA P.S- PALASHBARI DIST-KAMRUP ASSAM. 26: SHAMIM AHMED S/O- KHALILUR RAHMAN Page No.# 5/12 VILL- LALIMARA P.O- LALIMARA DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. 27: ISMAIL ALI S/O- ABDUL HANNAN VILL- TIKARPARA P.O- SRIGOURI DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 28: RAKIB HUSSAIN BARBHUIYA S/O- LT. SONAHAR ALI BARBHUIYA VILL- KAPTANPUR PART-1 P.O- KAPTANPUR DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. 29: SHAMIM AHMED S/O- LT. ABDUL KADIR VILL- DEORAIL P.O- BADARPUR DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 30: BHASKARJYOTI DUTTA S/O- KHAGEN DUTTA VILL- BARGANDUBI P.O- BANGAON DIST- BARPETA ASSAM. 31: SAHARUL ALOM BARBHUIYA S/O- SIRAJ UDDIN BARBHUIYA VILL- SONABARIGHAT 2 P.S- SILCHAR DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. 32: NAHARUL ALAM BARBHUIYA S/O- SIRAJ UDDIN BARBHUIYA VILL- SONABARIGHAT-2 P.S-SILCHAR DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. Page No.# 6/12 33: CHANDRA BHUSHAN PRASAD S/O- NAGALAL PRASAD VILL- PIPARIYA P.O- SAPAHI DIST- EAST CHAMPARA BIHAR. 34: SURAB UDDIN S/O- ABDUL KADIR VILL-DEORAIL P.O- BADARPUR DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 35: ABU BAKKAR S/O- LT. ABDUL ROHMAN VILL- ALEKHARGOOL P.O- ANGLAR BAZAR DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 36: HILAL AHMED S/O- FAKAR UDDIN VILL- GORKHAPON P.O- BADARPUR DIST- KARIMGANJ ASSAM. 37: JASIM UDDIN LASKAR S/O- TOMIJ UDDIN LASKAR VILL- UTTAR KRISHNAPUR PT-3 P.O-UTTAR KRISHNAPUR DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. 38: SIRAJUL HOQUE LASKAR S/O- MOINUL HOQUE LASKAR VILL- UTTAR KRISHNAPUR PT-3 P.O- UTTAR KRISHNAPUR DIST_ CACHAR ASSAM 39: MUNNI BASFOR S/O- FULCHAND BASFOR VILL- INDIRA NAGAR BASISTHA HOUSE NO.14 P.O- BASISTHA CHARIALI Page No.# 7/12 DIST-KAMRUP M ASSAM. 40: KHAKAN RAY ALIAS KHAKAN DAS S/O- LATE. DHIRENDRA NARAYAN RAY VILL- GHARABANDHA P.O- CHAPAR P.S- CHAPAR DIST- DHUBRI ASSAM. 41: MIRINA BEGUM S/O- SADULLAH SHAIKH VILL- CHENGA P.O- CHENGA P.S- TARABARI DIST- BARPETA ASSAM. 42: MAHESHWAR THAKURIYA S/O- TARUN CH. THAKURIYA VILL- CHENGA P.O- CHENGA P.S- CHENGA DIST- BARPETA ASSAM. 43: SUMA BEGUM LASKAR S/O- LATE. SARIF UDDIN LASKAR VILL- UTTAR KRISHNAPUR PT-1 P.O- UTTAR KRISHNAPUR DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. 44: BINOY ADHIKARY S/O- SARAT ADHIKARY VILL- BARTARY P.O- SONAPHULY DIST- BAKSA ASSAM. 45: JABIR ALOM MAZUMDER S/O- SUNAHAR ALI MAZUMDER VILL- CHANDPUR P.O- CHANDPUR DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. Page No.# 8/12 46: SHAMIM AHMED BARBHUIYA S/O- MAYNA RAJA BARBHUIYA VILL- FULBARI PT- II P.O- FULBARI DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. 47: NIHAR BEGUM LASKAR D/O- LATE- BABUR ALI LASKAR VILL- KALINAGAR PT- II P.O- DALU DIST- CACHAR ASSAM. 48: ANWAR HUSSAIN S/O- AJIR UDDIN VILL- JURBARI P.O- JURBARI DIST- SRIBHUMI ASSAM. 49: TAJ UDDIN S/O- MUJEMMIL ALI VILL- PATHARKANDI II P.O- PATHARKANDI DIST- SRIBHUMI ASSAM. 50: SALIK UDDIN S/O- ISRAIL ALI VILL- LAKHIPUR P.O- JURBARI DIST- SRIBHUMI ASSAM. 51: MANABENDRA LAHKAR S/O- JIBAN LAHKAR VILL- GURUKUCHI P.O- RANGIA DIST- KAMRUP ASSAM 52: ABDUL KALAM PARBICH S/O- SHARIF HUSSAIN VILL- JAKIALA P.O- ERALIGOOL DIST- SRIBHUMI ASSAM. 53: NILAM BHUYAN S/O- NIRMAL BHUYAN Page No.# 9/12 VILL- SIMALIYA P.O- MULARKUCHI DIST- NALBARI ASSAM. 54: ABDUL HASIB S/O- ABDUL SUKKUR VILL- HATIRGOOL P.O- JURBARI DIST- SRIBHUMI ASSAM. 55: JITU PATOR S/O-ATUL CHANDRA PATOR VILL- HABIBARANGABARI P.S- MIKHIRBHETA DIST- MORIGAON ASSAM. 56: MISS JONAKI ADHIKARY D/O-SARAT ADHIKARY VILL- BARTARY P.O- SONAPHULI DIST- BARPETA ASSAM VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 5 ORS TO BE REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM ENVIRONMENT FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI-06. 2:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT DISPUR GUWAHATI-06. 3:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM FINANCE DEPARTMENT DISPUR GUWAHATI-06 4:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS AND HEAD OF Page No.# 10/12 FORCE ASSAM ARYANA BHAWAN PANJABARI GUWAHATI-37 5:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (WL) ASSAM BASISTHA GUWAHATI-29 6:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS SOCIAL FORESTRY ASSAM BASISTHA GUWAHATI-2 Advocate for the Petitioner : MR F A LASKAR, MR A MALEK Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, SC, FINANCE BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SOUMITRA SAIKIA ORDER 15.05. 2026 Heard Mr. F. A. Laskar learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Ms. M. Kalita, learned Standing Counsel, for the Forest, Ms. A. Borthakur, learned Standing Counsel, Finance. 2. This writ petition has been filed by the petitioners claiming for the minimum pay scale in terms of a judgment and order dated passed by this Court in WA 45/2014 (State of Assam and Ors. vs. Upen Das & Ors.). 3. The case of the petitioners is that the petitioners have been serving as casual workers under the various Divisions of the Environment & Forest Department under the Government of Assam. The petitioners have rendered Page No.# 11/12 more than 10 years continuous service without any break and have been discharging their duties diligently to the satisfaction of the competent authorities. It is the case of the petitioners that they are entitled to get the benefit of minimum pay scale in terms of the decision rendered 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 the respondents have duly admitted that the petitioners have been rendering their services under the various Divisions of the Environment & Forest Department, Government of Assam since their respective date of engagement. Therefore, the learned counsel for the petitioner 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. The learned counsel for the respondents 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 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 worker since various date of their engagement 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). Page No.# 12/12 Before granting them such benefit, the respondents will be at liberty to make necessary verification as may be required. The petitioners be afforded the minimum pay scale as directed near 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