RAGHUVANSH MANI Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and the respondent-State.

(2.) Petitioners were engaged on monthly fixed pay of Rs 2,000/- per month for discharging duties under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (for brevity, MNREGA). The engagement of the petitioners was contractual and the contract itself contained specific stipulation that the performance of the petitioners would be subjected to review by the District Rural Development Agency during the period of contract. The Rural Development Department, Government of Bihar has laid down State wide standards as regards the performance of the persons engaged under the contract to ensure that the objectives of the MNREGA Scheme are achieved in true letter and spirit. Amongst other parameters, the Department, has laid down the number of man days to be achieved by the performance of the persons engaged under the contract.

(3.) The petitioners' performance was not satisfactory and not as per the standards laid down by the Department. The uniform standards laid down by the Department have, thus, been made the basis of reviewing the performance of the petitioners in terms of the contract of appointment (Annexure A to the counter affidavit).