JUDGMENT :

Heard Mr. PK Deka, learned counsel for the petitioner, Ms. MB Bora, learned counsel for the respondents No. 5 and 6 being the Deputy Commissioner, Nagaon and the Chief Secretary of the State of Assam as well as Mr. A Roy, learned counsel for the respondents No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 being the authorities in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Government of Assam.

2. The father of the petitioner Akbar Ali, who was working as a Gram Sevak in the office of the Block Development Officer in the Lawkhowa Development Block, died in harness on 09.02.2004 and on his death, the petitioner submitted an application for compassionate appointment on 20.02.2004. It is stated that the application of the petitioner was forwarded to the Secretary to the Government of Assam in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department on 29.07.2006. The DLC of Nagaon district in its meeting of 15.05.2017 had recommended the petitioner for appointment to a Grade-III post. When the said recommendation was placed before the SLC, the SLC in its meeting of 15.02.2019 rejected the recommendation made in favour of the petitioner by the DLC on the ground that the application was made after a period of one y