CONSERVATOR OF FOREST AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST PRINCIPAL Vs. PANKAJ KUMAR SRIVASTAVA OF SRI MAHENDRA NATH SRIVASTAVA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This special appeal has been filed against the judgment of the learned Single Judge dated 27.4.1998 allowing the Writ Petition No. 10199 of 1996 and directing the respondents therein to fix the date for interview within a reasonable time with regard to selection for the post of Forester (Van Daroga) of the candidates whose results have been declared.

(2.) In short, the facts of the case are that the Conservator of Forest/Regional Director, Eastern Circle, Gorakhpur issued letter dated 22.12.1994 to the eight District Employment Officers of the region inviting four names from each District Employment Exchange for filling up three posts of Forester (Van Daroga) by direct recruitment. Pursuant thereto names were forwarded from each district and written examinations were held on 04.01.1995. On the basis of the said written examination ten candidates were called for interview to be held on 05.01.1995, however, the interview was not held on the said date and was postponed.

(3.) In the meantime a large number of writ petitions were filed, in which thousand of class III and IV employees of the forest department, who had been working for decades in the state on daily wage basis or as temporary/ad hoc employees had claimed regularization and equal pay for equal work. The leading case was of Putti Lal v. State of U.P. and Ors., Writ Petition No. 15302 of 1995 in which an interim direction dated 21.08.1995 was issued by a learned Single Judge of this Court directing the respondents therein to draw up provisional but equitable scheme for absorption and regularization of the petitioners and similarly situate persons taking into consideration their length of service, qualification, experience and other relevant facts.