JUDGMENT :

Heard Ms. V. Therie, learned counsel for the petitioner. And also heard Ms. Pichano, learned Government Advocate for the State respondents.

2. This Writ Petition No. 317/2021 is also preferred by the petitioner, namely, Shri Yisutu, for issuing direction/order to the respondent authorities to regularize his service against the lowest scale of pay permissible for Grade-IV employees within the PHE Department, Government of Nagaland.

3. The background facts, leading to filing of the present petition are adumbrated herein below:-

“The petitioner was appointed as work-charged skilled labour bearing Code No.PHK-0659 in the fixed pay of Rs. 540/ P.M. @ Rs.18/ per day, under the establishment of S.D.O (PHE) Phek, Nagaland vide Order NO.EE/PHE/PK/EST/26/88-89, dated 03-11-1988, (Annexure-1), with effect from the date of his joining to the post. Then W/C Identity Card, (Annexure-2), was also issued to him by the PHED bearing Code No.PHK.0659 wherein his date of joining is clearly entered as 03.12.1988.

Then after 29 years 4 months of his service, vide Office Order NO.SD/PHE/MLR/EST-2/2000/66-70, dated 27-03-2018 (Annexure-3), passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, PHED, Meluri Sub-Divis