KAMESH SALAM Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND24 ORS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition was disposed of by an Order dated 05.06.2014 by quashing the Order of termination of the petitioner dated 1.06.2011 issued by the Chairman of Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre and Secretary, North Eastern Council. On appeal by the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre and Others, the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court by Order dated 06.01.2017 passed in W.A. No. 65/2015 with WP(C) No. 5988/2014 set aside the Order of this Court dated 05.06.2014 and remanded the matter back to consider the question of maintainability of the writ petition as to whether the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre is a state within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution of India or is an authority within the meaning of Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

(2.) Heard Mr. S. K. Medhi, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. A. Das, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Mr. D. C. Chakraborty, learned counsel for all the respondents.

(3.) Mr. S. K. Medhi, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) was set up in Guwahati as a Secretariat to implement the UNDP funded project called Cane and Bamboo technology upgradation and networking. The said project was a pioneer project solely dealing with the Cane and Bamboo sector in the country. The project was implemented by UNIDO concentrating on employment generation, restoration of ecology and economic development specially to the rural poor where the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India was the Executing Agency.