JUNU DEVI Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. M. Nath, learned senior counsel, assisted by Mr. A. Bhattacharjee, learned counsel for the petitioners in W.P.(C) 4803/2016, Mr. U.K. Nair, learned senior counsel, assisted by Mr. R. Islam, learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.(C) 4729/2016, W.P.(C) 4730/2016, and W.P.(C) 4489/2017. Also heard Mr. K. Gogoi, learned standing counsel for the Higher Education Department, representing respondent nos. 1 and 3 and Mr. A. Khanikar, learned standing counsel for the N.C. Hills Autonomous Council, representing respondent nos. 2, 4 and 5.

(2.) By filing these writ petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners, who are currently working as Assistant Professors in Maibong Degree College have prayed for (i) setting aside and quashing the Office Memorandum (OM for short) dtd. 10/7/2015 issued by the Addl. Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Education (Higher) Department; (ii) setting aside and quashing the letter dtd. 29/3/2016 by the respondent no.4 in so far it concerns the petitioners; and (iii) for directing the respondents to pay the annual increment to the petitioners including the selection grade pay. Case of the petitioners and submission by the learned senior counsel for the petitioners:

(3.) The case of the petitioners is that they were respectively appointed as Lecturer in Maibong Degree College, then a venture college as follows:-