DILIP KUMAR MEDHI and ORS vs THE STATE OF ASSAM AND ORS

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GAHC010197932018 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : Review.Pet./16/2019 THE STATE OF ASSAM AND ANR REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM, EDUCATION(SECONDARY) DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI 781006
2: THE DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSAM KAHILIPARA GHY-19 VERSUS SRI DILIP KR. MEDHI AND 28 ORS S/O LATE GOGESWAR MEDHI, VILLAGE JALKHANA LAKHURA, PO JALUKHARA, PS TIHU, NALBARI, 781371
2:SRI NETRA PRASAD SARMA S/O HARI PRASAD SARMA VILL- BALISIHA JUNGLE P.O. JAMUGURI UDALGURI
3:SRI MINTU BHARALI S/O DHARMESWAR BHARALI VILL- MATHAR BORI P.O. RAMJANGATI RUHA NAGAON
782103.
4:SRI MUKUT CH KALITA S/O JAGNYU RAM KALITA VILL- KUJISTRA P.O. SILPUKHURI MORIGAON ASSAM.
5:SRI PRADIP BARO S/O SRI ANLA BARO VILL- GOPCHACHUBA P.O. MALMURA UDALGURI P.S. TANGLA ASSAM.
6:SRI NRIPENDRA KR SHARMA S/O PRAFULL CH SHARMA VILL- NARIKALI P.O. KHANDAJAN DARRANG.
7:SRI NIRANJAN DAS S/O LT. RAJEN DAS VILL- BARLAH P.O. HALOGAON KAMRUP.
8:MAZAMMIL HUSSAIN S/O KHAIRULLA ALI VILL- HETAMTOLA P.O. GONESH KUARI DIST. DARRANG ASSAM.
9:SRI JYOTISH GOGOI S/O TL. MOHENDRA NATH GOGOI VILL- BETBARI NO.2 DA GAON P.O. MITHAPUKHURI.
10:SRI BINOY KR NATH S/O L CHANDI RAM NATH VILL- KABAICHUBA P.O. BORDULGURI DARRANG.
11:LAKSHANA SARMAH W/O ANANTA DEV SARMAH VILL and P.O. TOKANKATA DIST. DARRANG
12:SRI MUKUT KR NATH S/O LT. CHANDIRAM NATH VILL- HATIMURIA P.O. SATKHALI DIST. DARRANG
13:SRI MANISH KR GHOSH S/O KALI KRISHNA GHOSH THANAPARA H. NO.-9 KOKRAJHAR.
14:RAMISUDDIN AHMED S/O MD AFAJUDDIN VILL- RANGESWARI P.O. TUPAMARI VIA- NAGARBERA KAMRUP
15:SRI UPEN DAS S/O LT. GHANAKANTA DAS VILL- DOOMDOOMA P.O. KACHARISON SONITPUR
784117.
16:SRI TUNESWAR DEKA S/O LT. PHANIDHAR DEKA VILL- NATUN PAMN P.O. SIRAJULI SONITPUR
784117.
17:SRI DILIP CHELLENG S/O LT. JHAGIRAM CHELLENG VILL- BHEREKI GAON P.O. PANIGAON LAKHIMPUR
787052.
18:SRI PUNARAM PEGU VILL- BALIGAON P.O. GAMCHUK LAKHIMPUR
787052.
19:SRI JADAB DAS S/O LT. HANFAR DAS VILL- KENDUKUCHI P.O. BHATTAPARA KAMRUP GHY-17 P.S. AZARA.
20:SRI ANSAR ALI SHEIKH S/O LT. ABDUL SABUR SK VILL- KARIMARI PT- 7 P.O. KAIMARI P.S. GOLAHGANJ DHUBRI- 783335.
21:SRI SANKARLAL SHOW S /O LT. KALIPRASAD SHOW VILL- NATABARI P.O. and P.S. TAMARHAT KOKRAJHAR ASSAM.
22:CHITRA DAS MAHANTA W/O NARAYAN MAHANTA VILL- UTTAR BARPARA BOKO P.O. BOKO KAMRUP
781123.
23:CHARU PROVA DEVI S/O SRI SANIRAM NATH VILL- SATGHARI P.O. SIPAJHAR DIST. DARRANG PIN 784145.
24:GULBAHAR BEGUM MD ABDUL RAHMAN VILL and P.O. PANERI DIST. UDALGURI BTAD ASSAM PIN 784523.
25:MINAKSHI NATH C/O SRI GOBINDA BARUAH VILL- GARGARI P.O. BURHINAGAR P.S. KALAIGAON DIST. DARRANG ASSAM PIN- 784147.
26:JOYMATI DEVI W/O SRI SISU RAM KAKOTI VILL and P.O. BARUAJANI P.S. KAMALPUR KAMRUP ASSAM PIN 781380.
27:HOMEN MEDHI ASSISTANT TEACHER OF NAGARBERA HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOO P.O. NAGARBERA DIST. KAMRUP ASSAM PIN 781127.
28:MITALI BORAH W/O SRI AMAL KUMAR KALITA R/O ADHARSHAPUR LANE NO.2 HOUSE NO. 34-A KAHILIPARA GHY-19.
29:THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM FINANCE DEPARTMENT DISPUR GUWAHATI 78100 Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. D SAIKIA Advocate for the Respondent : MR B GOGOI (SC-FINANCE DEPTT.)
Linked Case : WP(C)/3662/2009 DILIP KUMAR MEDHI and ORS.
S/O LT. GOGESWAR MEDHI VILL- JALKHANA LAKHURA P.O. JALUKHARA P.S. TIHU NALBARI
781371.
2: SRI NETRA PRASAD SARMA S/O HARI PRASAD SARMA VILL- BALISIHA JUNGLE P.O. JAMUGURI UDALGURI
3: SRI MINTU BHARALI S/O DHARMESWAR BHARALI VILL- MATHAR BORI P.O. RAMJANGATI RUHA NAGAON
782103.
4: SRI MUKUT CH KALITA S/O JAGNYU RAM KALITA VILL- KUJISTRA P.O. SILPUKHURI MORIGAON ASSAM.
5: SRI PRADIP BARO S/O SRI ANLA BARO VILL- GOPCHACHUBA P.O. MALMURA UDALGURI P.S. TANGLA ASSAM.
6: SRI NRIPENDRA KR SHARMA S/O PRAFULL CH SHARMA VILL- NARIKALI P.O. KHANDAJAN DARRANG.
7: SRI NIRANJAN DAS S/O LT. RAJEN DAS VILL- BARLAH P.O. HALOGAON KAMRUP.
8: MAZAMMIL HUSSAIN S/O KHAIRULLA ALI VILL- HETAMTOLA P.O. GONESH KUARI DIST. DARRANG ASSAM.
9: SRI JYOTISH GOGOI S/O TL. MOHENDRA NATH GOGOI VILL- BETBARI NO.2 DA GAON P.O. MITHAPUKHURI.
10: SRI BINOY KR NATH S/O L CHANDI RAM NATH VILL- KABAICHUBA P.O. BORDULGURI DARRANG.
11: LAKSHANA SARMAH W/O ANANTA DEV SARMAH VILL and P.O. TOKANKATA DIST. DARRANG
12: SRI MUKUT KR NATH S/O LT. CHANDIRAM NATH VILL- HATIMURIA P.O. SATKHALI DIST. DARRANG
13: SRI MANISH KR GHOSH S/O KALI KRISHNA GHOSH THANAPARA H. NO.-9 KOKRAJHAR.
14: RAMISUDDIN AHMED S/O MD AFAJUDDIN VILL- RANGESWARI P.O. TUPAMARI VIA- NAGARBERA KAMRUP
15: SRI UPEN DAS S/O LT. GHANAKANTA DAS VILL- DOOMDOOMA P.O. KACHARISON SONITPUR
784117.
16: SRI TUNESWAR DEKA S/O LT. PHANIDHAR DEKA VILL- NATUN PAMN P.O. SIRAJULI SONITPUR
784117.
17: SRI DILIP CHELLENG S/O LT. JHAGIRAM CHELLENG VILL- BHEREKI GAON P.O. PANIGAON LAKHIMPUR
787052.
18: SRI PUNARAM PEGU VILL- BALIGAON P.O. GAMCHUK LAKHIMPUR
787052.
19: SRI JADAB DAS S/O LT. HANFAR DAS VILL- KENDUKUCHI P.O. BHATTAPARA KAMRUP GHY-17 P.S. AZARA.
20: SRI ANSAR ALI SHEIKH S/O LT. ABDUL SABUR SK VILL- KARIMARI PT- 7 P.O. KAIMARI P.S. GOLAHGANJ DHUBRI- 783335.
21: SRI SANKARLAL SHOW S /O LT. KALIPRASAD SHOW VILL- NATABARI P.O. and P.S. TAMARHAT KOKRAJHAR ASSAM.
22: CHITRA DAS MAHANTA W/O NARAYAN MAHANTA VILL- UTTAR BARPARA BOKO P.O. BOKO KAMRUP
781123.
23: CHARU PROVA DEVI S/O SRI SANIRAM NATH VILL- SATGHARI P.O. SIPAJHAR DIST. DARRANG PIN 784145.
24: GULBAHAR BEGUM MD ABDUL RAHMAN VILL and P.O. PANERI DIST. UDALGURI BTAD ASSAM PIN 784523.
25: MINAKSHI NATH C/O SRI GOBINDA BARUAH VILL- GARGARI P.O. BURHINAGAR P.S. KALAIGAON DIST. DARRANG ASSAM PIN- 784147.
26: JOYMATI DEVI W/O SRI SISU RAM KAKOTI VILL and P.O. BARUAJANI P.S. KAMALPUR KAMRUP ASSAM PIN 781380.
27: HOMEN MEDHI ASSISTANT TEACHER OF NAGARBERA HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOO P.O. NAGARBERA DIST. KAMRUP ASSAM PIN 781127.
28: MITALI BORAH W/O SRI AMAL KUMAR KALITA R/O ADHARSHAPUR LANE NO.2 HOUSE NO. 34-A KAHILIPARA GHY-19. VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND ORS REP. BY THE COMMISSIONER and SECY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM EDUCATION SECONDARY DEPARTMENT DISPUR GHY-6.
2:THE COMMISSIONER and SECY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM FINANCE DEPARTMENT DISPUR GHY-6
3:THE DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSAM KAHILIPARA GHY-19. ------------
Advocate for : MR.A C BORBORA Advocate for : SC EDU appearing for THE STATE OF ASSAM AND ORS BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MICHAEL ZOTHANKHUMA

Advocates:
['A C BORBORA', '', 'M SMITH', 'M DUTTA', 'U K NAIR', 'SC', 'EDU', '']

ORDER

Date : 11-02-2021 Heard Mr. K.P. Pathak, the learned counsel for the review petitioners. Also heard Mr.

A.C. Borbora, the learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. M. Smith, appearing for the writ petitioners/ opposite party.

2. The review petitioners are praying for review of the Order dated 28.04.2015 passed by this Court in WP(C) No. 3662/2009, wherein this Court had directed that in view of the Judgment and Order dated 01.09.2003 passed in C.R. No. 1571/1998, the writ petitioners’ were to be given the pensionary benefits as per the Assam Services Pension Rules, 1969 and that their past services should also be counted for the purpose of computation of pensionary benefits in terms of the Assam Services Pension Rules, 1969 (hereinafter referred to as the

1969 Rules).

3. Mr. K.P. Pathak, the learned counsel for the review petitioners submits that the review has become necessary in view of the fact that while the petitioners services had been regularized on 04.06.2008, the new Defined Contribution Pension Scheme had come into force with effect from 01.02.2005 in terms of the letter dated 25.01.2005, issued by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Finance Department and the Office Memorandum dated 06.10.2009, issued by the Government of Assam, Finance (Budget) Department. He also submits that the State respondents can make a law with retrospective effect and the same would be applicable unless it affects the vested rights already accrued. Accordingly, the Assam Services (Pension) Rules, 1969 was amended on 14.07.2011, vide the Assam Services (Pension) (Amendment) Rules, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as Pension Amendment Rules, 2011), which was given retrospective effect from 01.02.2005.

4. Mr. A.C. Borbora, the learned senior counsel for the writ petitioners/ opposite parties submits that in terms of Direction No. 6 passed by this Court in C.R. No. 1571/1998, the State respondents had been directed to make a list of dropped teachers eligible for regularization and they were to be regularized with prospective effect, with the benefit of counting their past service for the purpose of computation of pensionary benefits. As the petitioners were regularized on 04.06.2008 when the Assam Service Pension Rules, 1969 was in force, the writ petitioners had to be given their pension in terms of the 1969 Rules. Accordingly, the impugned Order dated 28.04.2015 passed in WP(C) No. 3662/2009 needs no review.

5. I have heard the learned counsels for the parties.

6. This Court in the impugned Order dated 28.04.2015 had, in pursuant to direction No. 6 passed in C.R. No. 1571/1998, directed that pension was to be given and the benefit of past service was to be counted for the purpose of computation of pensionary benefits in terms of Assam Service Pension Rules, 1969. The service of the writ petitioners were regularized on 04.06.2008 when the Assam Service Pension Rules, 1969 was in force. The New Defined Contribution Pension Scheme came into effect by way of the Assam Service (Pension) (Amendment) Rules, 2011 vide Notification dated 14.07.2011, with retrospective effect being given from 01.02.2005. Thus, it is clearly seen that on the date the petitioners’ services were regularized, the 1969 Rules had not been amended.

7. This Court has no quarrel with the proposition that legislatures and the competent authority under Article 309 of the Constitution of India have the power to make laws with retrospective effect. However, this power cannot be used to deprive the writ petitioners of their right to be governed by the 1969 Rules.

8. The letter dated 25.01.2005, issued by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Finance Department states that “Government servants joining the service of the State Government on or after 01.02.2005 shall not be governed by the existing Assam Services (Pension) Rules, 1969 and orders issued thereunder from time to time. So far as their pension and other retirement benefits are concerned, they

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