MHONTHUNG ODYUO Vs. STATE OF NAGALAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. T. Koza, learned counsel for the petitioners as well as Mr. I. Jamir, learned Addl. Advocate General assisted by Mrs. Y. Longkumer for the respondents.

(2.) The petitioners 254 in numbers were appointed as LDA, Stenographer Grade in and Typist in the Nagaland Civil Secretariat by different appointment orders issued during the period 1991-2000. The appointment of all the petitioners were made on contract, substitute or on Adhoc basis. All of them were appointed initially for a specific period mentioned in the appointment orders. However, the services of the petitioners were extended from time to time.

(3.) While the petitioners were serving, a notice dated 8.8.01 was issued by the Government in the Home Department intimating the dates for selection of casual employees in Nagaland Civil Secretariat whose term of appointment has not been extended and those who are on extension of their services. The dates of interview for LDAs, Typist and Stenos were fixed on 24.8.01, 27.8.01 and 28.8.01. The said notice was issued on the basis of the earlier notification dated 13.7.01 by which the Government constituted the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee after completion of the selection process submitted its report dated 10.10.01 whereby 135 LDAs, 52 Stenographers and 110 Typists were selected by the Selection Committee. On the recommendation of the Selection Committee the Government in the Home Department issued appointment orders for LDAs, Stenographers and Typists vide 3 (three) orders dated 16.11.01. By the said 3 orders the LDAs and Stenographers were appointed on fixed pay of Rs.3,500/ - p.m. and the Typists were appointed on fixed pay of Rs.3,000/- p.m. It is these 3 orders by which the petitioners were aggrieved in this writ petition.