ARUP MANTA Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. U.K. Nair, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. M. Mahanta, learned counsel for the petitioners in W.P.(C) No. 3931 of 2017 and W.P.(C) No. 7652 of 2017; Mr. S. Saikia, learned counsel assisted by Mr. N. J. Gogoi, learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.(C) No. 4200 of 2017 and W.P.(C) No. 7555 of 2017. Also heard Mr. B. Goswami, learned Additional Advocate General, Assam assisted by Mr. D. Nath, learned Addl. Sr. Govt. Advocate and Mr. S. K. Talukder, learned counsel for the State respondents; Mr. G. Choudhury, learned Standing Counsel for the APSC as well as Mr. J. Payeng, learned counsel for the respondent No.6 in W.P.(C) No. 3931 of 2017.

(2.) Considering the commonality of the grievances and issues raised in these petitions, these are heard together and disposed of by this common judgment. W.P.(C) No. 3931 of 2017

(3.) In W.P.(C) No. 3931 of 2017, the petitioners, all of whom belong to unreserved category, have challenged the recruitment process initiated by the advertisement dated 16.01.2017 issued by the Assam Public Service Commission (in short, APSC) for recruitment to 4(four) posts in the cadre of Deputy Director in the Assam Forensic Science Laboratory Service by way of direct recruitment, contending that reserving one post for Scheduled Tribe (Plains) [STP] is illegal.