PRABIN TALUKDAR Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. MK Choudhury, learned senior counsel for the petitioner and Mr. D Nath, learned Additional Senior Government Advocate for the respondents.

(2.) The petitioner is presently serving as a Junior Engineer in the PWD, Assam and is claiming a promotion to the cadre of Assistant Engineer (civil) on the strength of the petitioner having obtained a graduate degree. As per the rules, certain posts in the cadre of Assistant Engineer (civil) are to be filled up by promotion from amongst the Junior Engineers who have in the meantime acquired their graduate degree and such promotion according to the Rules is to be construed as direct recruitment.

(3.) Be that as it may, the petitioner had obtained his graduate degree from the Institute of Civil Engineers (India) Ludhiana. A question had arisen earlier as to whether the qualification obtained from the Institute of Civil Engineers (India) Ludhiana can be construed to be equivalent to the degree of AMICE(I). If it is to be construed to be equivalent to the degree of AMICE(I), it has also to be construed that the petitioner has the required graduate degree. The question whether the degree obtained from the Institute of Civil Engineers (India) Ludhiana can be construed to be a degree equivalent to that of AMICE(I) was decided by this Court in the judgment and order dated 15.11.2017 in WP(C) No.5042/2017, wherein a conclusion was arrived that all such professional degrees, which were obtained prior to 31.05.2013 are to be considered to be equivalent to a B.E degree.