E. RAGHUMANI SINGHA Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. K.N. Choudhury, learned senior counsel, assisted by Mr. J. Patowary, learned counsel for the petitioner in WP(C) 3655/2022; Mr. A. Khanikar, learned counsel for the petitioners in WP(C) 5162/2020; and Mr. P. Bhardwaj, learned counsel for the petitioners in WP(C) 4216/2022.

(2.) Also heard Ms. S. Baruah, learned Govt. Advocate appearing for respondent no.1; Mr. A. Phukan, learned standing counsel for the Secretariat Administration Department representing respondent nos.2 to 4; and Mr. A. Khanikar, learned counsel for the private respondent nos.5 to 13 in WP(C) 3655/2022 and for private respondent nos.4 to 12 in WP(C) 4216/2022.

(3.) By filing WP(C) 3655/2022, the petitioner herein has assailed the Cabinet decision in respect of additional item no.4 in its meeting dtd. 18/5/2022, by which the educational qualification of the respondent nos.5 to 13 of having graduation as a condition for promotion was relaxed/condoned and the petitioner has also prayed for recalling or rescinding the said decision for relaxing the educational qualification of the respondent nos.5 to 13 with further direction to the respondents to hold a review DPC for promotion to Stenographer Grade-I ( English) in respect of remaining 14 vacancies out of the 40% promotional quota in terms of Rule 5(3) of the Assam Stenographers' Service Rules, 1995 (as amended) ('1995 Rules' for short) by the Assam Stenographers' (Amended) Service Rules, 2020 ('2020 Rules' for short).