JUDGMENT :

Heard Mr. C.T Jamir, learned Sr. counsel assisted by Mr. I. Imchen, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. T.B. Jamir, learned counsel for the respondent No.1 and Mr. E. Thiba Phom, learned Government Advocate for the State respondent.

2. The present writ petition has been filed to quash and set aside the Case No. A-NLP-34/2022 and the order dated 07/12/2022 passed by the learned Upa-Lokayukta, Nagaland, Kohima, on the ground that it is violative of the provisions of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017.

3. The fact of the case in brief is that the petitioner No.1 was initially appointed as LDA (District) on work-charge basis by the order dated 16/11/1983, the petitioner No.2 was appointed as LDA (District) on work-charge basis by the order dated 20/07/1987 and the petitioner No.3 was appointed as LDA (District) on work-charge basis by the order dated 01/08/1983. The service of the petitioners were extended from time to time and by the order dated 15/07/1998, the work-charge service of the petitioners was last extended upto 30/09/1998. Thereafter, by a common order dated 14/06/1989 issued by the department, the petitioners were appointed as LDA (Directorate) against the newly