PRAKASH RAI Vs. THE STATE OF JHARKHAND THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HEALTH, FAMILY WELFARE AND MEDICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF JHARKHAND AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard counsel for the parties.

(2.) All these petitioners belong to SC or ST category who were engaged pursuant to the advertisement issued in 2008 as Multipurpose Worker (Male) on contractual basis in the State Malaria Control Committee. The engagement was initially for a period of one year, but got renewed annually up to 2014 when the engagement ended on 30.09.2014. The Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, Government of Jharkhand have now decided to undertake the recruitment to newly created 2150 posts of Multipurpose Worker (Male) on contractual basis under the advertisement no. 13/2015 issued on 23.12.2015 which lays down the eligibility criteria as having qualification of intermediate / 10+2 in Science subject with minimum 45% marks; candidates should also have the work experience of one year under the Health Department, Government of Jharkhand as Multipurpose Worker (Male); the age limit prescribed for recruitment is from 18 years to 45 years. About 559 and 215 posts have been notified in the scheduled tribe / scheduled caste category.

(3.) Petitioners are aggrieved by fixation of upper age limit and seek relaxation beyond 45 years counting their period of contractual engagement since 2008 till it came to an end in Sept. 2014.