BASIRUDDIN KAZI Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. S Banik, learned counsel for the appellants. Also heard Mr. B Gogoi, learned counsel for the respondents in the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Assam.

(2.) The appellants herein claim that they were appointed as Male Village Health Workers from 9/4/1997 and were paid their remuneration at the rate of Rs.50.00 per month up to 8/3/1983. Certain certificates of the Sub-Divisional Medical and Health Officer, Harinagar are relied upon to show that they had performed their duties as Trained Community Health Guide under the Harinagar Public Health Centre from 9/4/1979 up to 9/12/1986. The appellants also rely upon a communication dtd. 20/10/1986 from the Under Secretary to the Government of Assam in the Health and Family Welfare (A) Department made to the Director of Health Services Assam wherein the Government of India letter No.P18014/86 RHD dtd. 21/7/1986 addressed to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam and an interim order of the Karnataka High Court in respect of Male Health Guides were enclosed with a further request not to discontinue the Male Health Guides until further order(s).

(3.) The appellants also refer to a judgment dtd. 23/10/2017 of this Court in a series of writ petitions being WP(C)No.900/2013 and other writ petitions providing for certain entitlements of the honorarium in respect of the Health Guide Workers. Amongst the writ petitions, WP(C)No.900/2013, WP(C)No.1810/2013, WP(C)No.4172/2014, WP(C)No.813/2013 and WP(C)No.2250/2015 were in respect of Female Village Health Workers, who were referred as Female Attendants under the Health and Family Welfare Department. WP(C)No.948/2015, WP(C)No.947/2015 and WP(C)No.1623/2014 were in respect of Village Health Workers who were referred as Health Guide Workers under the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Government of Assam. In the said writ petitions, reference was made to a judgment dtd. 22/2/2000 in Civil Rule No.3073/1995 wherein there was a direction to pay a minimum wages of Rs.900.00 per month from July 1998 to the Female Attendants.