JUDGMENT & ORDER :

ARUN DEV CHOUDHURY, J.

1. Heard Mr. S. Borthakur, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr. N.J.Khataniar, learned School Education Department, Assam for the respondents.

2. These two writ petitions are taken up together. The challenge made in these two petitions is the same, i.e., a challenge to the communication bearing No. E-417782/18 dated 19.12.2023.

3. The petitioners in these two petitions are working as Subject Teachers/Assistant Teachers and In-Charge Headmasters in different provincialised Secondary Schools under the jurisdiction of the Inspector of Schools, Sivasagar District Circle, Sivasagar and under the jurisdiction of the Inspector of Schools, Tinsukia District Circle, Tinsukia. They had acquired B.Ed.degree, MA degree through distance mode offered by three universities, i.e., IDOL Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University and Assam University.

4. By the impugned communication dated 19.12.2023, the Director of Secondary Education, Assam, Kahilipara instructed all the Inspectors of Schools, Assam asking them to immediately start Departmental Proceedings against those teaching and non-teaching staff of the Provincialised Secondary Schools, who have acqu