SNGEWBHALIN PALIAR Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners by way of this writ petition have approached this Court seeking directions to direct the respondents more particularly the respondent No. 3 and 5 for allocation of daily wage work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The brief facts as submitted is that the petitioners who are the residents of the village known as Umwali Vilalge, West Khasi Hills are in possession of Job Cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which ensure them of sustainable employment and which provides payment of daily wages.

(2.) It has been contended by the writ petitioners that they have been deprived of the benefits of the Scheme as the respondent No. 5 had engaged machinery to execute some works, for which a complaint had been filed before the respondent No. 3. It is further submitted that an enquiry had been gone into by the respondent No. 4, the Additional Programme Officer, C&RD Block Mawshynrut, West Khasi Hills, with regard to the situation in the village vis-à-vis the petitioners, and that a copy of the enquiry report dtd. 22/11/2019 was made available to the writ petitioner No. 1, by way of an RTI application.

(3.) Ms. A. Kharshiing, learned counsel for the petitioners has drawn the attention of this Court to the said enquiry report which is appended at Annexure-5 of the writ petition, and submits that the report indicates that the writ petitioner and another person were deprived of the daily wages as they were not following the conditions as laid down by the village, and further that the Enquiry Officer had advocated for settlement of the dispute amicably.