TAPASWINI ROUT Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since common question of facts and law are involved in both the Writ Petitions, the same were heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment. However, this Court felt it apposite to deal the W.P.(C) No.33459 of 2022 as the leading case for proper adjudication of both the cases.

(2.) The Petitioners, through W.P.(C) No.33459 of 2023, have challenged the office order dtd. 23/12/2022 and office order dtd. 21/6/2023, both issued by the Under Secretary to the Government of India and for the quashment of order dtd. 31/8/2023 issued by the Head Services of Childline India Foundation (CIF), Mumbai. The Petitioners also seek a direction from this Court to the Opposite Party Nos.3 to 5 in whose favour the Childline/ChildHelpline services got merged in the name of "Mission Vatsalya" by staff permanently Ministry of the Government of India for discharging, carrying out and operating the above services in the State to engage and continue with these Petitioners and other staffs permanently in their respective posts in such new transitional scheme without any break and to sanction their salaries/remunerations in the comparative pay-scale of the Government of Odisha without any discontinuation, break or discrimination.

(3.) The Petitioners, who are the Government-paid-post-holders being placed in different natures of posts under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, Opp. Party No.1, and who along with others have been rendering their services for a substantial period of time in "Childline service/ Childhelpline Service " i.e., "A twenty-four hours emergency outreach service for children in crisis which links them to emergency or long-term care and rehabilitation service" as provided under Sec. 2 (25) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.