SAPAM ARUNKUMAR SINGH Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) <DJG>KH. NOBIN SINGH, J.</DJG> __ Heard Shri Kh. Tarankumar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners; Shri A. Ashang, learned Government Advocate for the respondent Nos. 1 & 2 and Shri Y. Nirmolchand, learned counsel appearing for the private respondents.

(2.) The subject matter in issue relates to the validity and correctness of the Final Seniority List for the post of Deputy Rangers published vide Notifications dated 20.05.14 and dated 28.06.2014 issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Manipur.

(3.) According to the petitioners, they are presently serving as the Deputy Rangers in the Department of Forest, Government of Manipur, which was earlier known as the Forester Grade-I. The post of Forester Grade-I came to be re-designated as the Deputy Ranger on 31.03.1999 vide an order issued by the Commissioner (Finance), Government of Manipur. 3.1. The recruitment and the conditions of service for the post of Forester Grade-I were regulated by the Recruitment Rules known as the Forest Department Manipur (Forester Grade-I) Recruitment Rules, 1990 whereby the post was to be filled up - 75% by promotion and 25% by direct recruitment and maximum age limit for direct recruits was fixed at 30 years. The said Recruitment Rules, 1990 came to be superseded by the rules called the Department of Forests, Manipur Deputy Ranger Recruitment Rules, 2007 wherein the upper age limit for the direct recruits continued to remain the same. 3.2. Sometime in the last part of September, 2015, the petitioners came to know the existence of the Notification dated 20.05.14 by which the Final Seniority List for the post of Deputy Ranger was published and the names of the petitioners appeared at Serial No. 46, 45, 52 and 54 while that of the private respondents at Serial No. 15 to 28 respectively. This Notification was found to have been updated by the Notification dated 28.06.2014 wherein the names of the petitioners appeared at Serial No. 38, 37, 44 and 46 while that of the private respondents at Serial No. 7 to 20 respectively. Pursuant to and on the basis of the said Final Seniority List published vide Notification dated 28.06.14, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Manipur did commence taking steps towards holding a DPC for promotion to the post of Range Forest Officer for which letters dated 30.04.2015 and 03.06.2015 were addressed to the Director (Vigilance) and other concerned officers as regards the Integrity Certificate and the ACRs.