RUPAM ROY Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. M. Kalra, learned counsel, and Mr. A.B. Dey, learned counsel, appearing for the writ petitioners. Also heard Mr. D. Saikia, learned Advocate General Assam, assisted by Mr. S.M.T. Chistie, learned Standing Counsel, Elementary Education, Ms. S. Chutia, learned Standing Counsel, Elementary Education, and Ms. R. Baruah, learned counsel, appearing for the State respondent Nos. 1 and 2, and Mr. I. Alam, learned Standing Counsel, NCTE, appearing for the respondent No. 4.

(2.) The writ petitioners, a group of candidates aspiring for appointment as Assistant Teachers have filed this writ petition challenging, inter alia, the notification dtd. 17/6/2025 issued by the Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam, requiring candidates who have successfully submitted their applications with 18-month Diploma in Elementary Education from NIOS against the advertisement dtd. 26/12/2023 to attend physically the second phase of verification with specified documents for verifying whether they were in-service as on the cut-off date, i.e., 10/8/2017, for the purpose of treating them as diploma holders and thereby qualifying them for considering in the recruitment process of Assistant Teacher of L.P. Schools under the Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam.

(3.) The factual matrix of the case is that by advertisement dtd. 26/12/2023, applications were invited for filling up of 3,800 vacancies of Assistant Teacher of L.P. Schools under the Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam, wherein the eligibility criteria as prescribed under Clause 15 of the advertisement reads as under: