ARHANGBA Vs. STATE OF NAGALAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. Sentiyanger, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners. Mr. N. Angami, the learned Government Adv-ocate appears on behalf of the Respondent Nos. 1, 2, and 3.

(2.) The Petitioners herein who were initially appointed as Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Staff vide office orders dt. 12/9/2023 and 27/9/2023 respectively were subsequently terminated vide separate office orders both dtd. 23/2/2024 enclosed as Annexure-3 and Annexure-4 to the writ petition on the ground of keeping the O&M staff strength within the Ceiling Limit fixed by the Government.

(3.) It may not be out of place to mention that similar to the present Petitioners, 72 other persons were also initially appointed and subsequently terminated vide office orders dtd. 23/2/2024 and 20/4/2024. These 72 persons being aggrieved by their termination jointly approached this Court by filing a writ petition being WP(C) No. 77/2024 wherein they inter alia sought the following reliefs: