2026 Supreme(Online)(Manipur) 111
HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
STATE OF MANIPUR AND 2 OTHERS – Appellant
Versus
THOUNAOJAM PRIYORANJAN AND 6 OTHERS – Respondent
MC(WA) 174 / 2022
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KHOIROM Digitally signed by
BIPINCHAN K BH IPO INIR CO HM AN DRA SINGH REPORTABLE
DRA SINGH D 19a :t 5e 9: :2 40 62 +6 0.0 52 '3.2 05 ' Item No. 13 - 14
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
AT IMPHAL
W.A. No. 108 of 2022
1. State of Manipur through the Principal
Secretary/Commissioner/Secretary, Department of
Education (S), Govt. of Manipur, Secretariat Building,
Babupara, P.O. & P.S. Imphal, Imphal West District,
Manipur – 795001.
2. The Director of Education, Govt. of Manipur, RIMS
Doctors Colony, Lamphelpat, PO & PS Lamphel, District
Imphal West, Manipur – 795001.
3. The DC/Chairman, District Board of Education, SSA,
Imphal East, Govt. of Manipur Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan –
Manipur, Babupara PO & PS Imphal West, Manipur –
795001.
… Appellants
- Versus -
1. Thounaojam Priyoranjan, aged about 39 years, S/o
(L) Thaounaojam Yaikul, resident of Moirang Kampu Sajeb,
PO & PS Porompat and District Imphal East, Manipur –
795005.
2. Yaithengbam Ganga Chanu, aged about 41 years, S/o
Yaithengbam Khamba, resident of Khurai Sajor Leikai, PO
Lamlong, PS Porompat and District Imphal East, Manipur –
795010.
3. Khundongbam Naba Singh, aged about 43 years, S/o
(L) Khundongbam Kora Singh, resident of Phaknung, PO
Lamlong, PS Lamlai and District Imphal East, Manipur –
795010.
4. Ashangbam Amusana Chanu, aged about 43 years,
S/o (L) A. Tombi Meetei, resident of Khurai Chingangbam
Leikai, PO & PS Porompat and District Imphal East, Manipur
– 795005.
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##PAGE2##5. Kshetrimayum Premchandra Meitei, aged about 39
years, S/o Ksh. Ito Singh, resident of Khurai Sajor Leikai, PO
Lamlong, PS Porompat and District Imphal East, Manipur –
795010.
6. Thaodem Kiranbala Devi, aged about 39 years, S/o
Thaodem Shyama Singh, resident of Khurai Sajor Leikai, PO
Lamlong, PS Porompat and District Imphal East, Manipur –
795010.
7. Lourembam Rashananda Singh, aged about 41 years,
S/o Lourembam Komei Singh, resident of Phaknung, PO
Lamlong, PS Lamlai and District Imphal East, Manipur –
795010.
… Respondents
With
MC(WA) No. 174 of 2022
B E F O R E
HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A. GUNESHWAR SHARMA
For the appellant : Ms. Ch. Sundari, Government Advocate
For the respondents : Mr. Anjan Prasad Sahu, Advocate
Date of hearing : 24.02.2026
Date of judgment & order : 24.02.2026
JUDGMENT & ORDER
(O R A L)
(M. Sundar, CJ)
[1] This order will govern captioned main writ appeal (WA) and
captioned miscellaneous case (MC) thereat.
[2] Captioned main writ appeal is an intra Court appeal and the
same has been filed by State assailing an ‘order dated 08.06.2022 made by
a Hon’ble Single Bench in W.P.(C) No. 178 of 2021’ (‘impugned order’ for
the sake of brevity, convenience and clarity).
Page 2 | 12
##PAGE3##[3] Short facts of the case (shorn of details not imperative for
appreciating instant order) are that subject matter of case at hand is
appointment of staff in a residential school in Khurai, Manipur that has been
set up as part of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme; on 30.06.2012
State Project Director of SSA/SMA (to be noted, SMA denotes State Mission
Authority) sent a communication to ‘Deputy Commissioner’ (‘DC’ for the
sake of convenience) of various Districts about opening of residential school
under SSA and requested formation of a adhoc committee with the
concerned ‘District Project Manager’ (‘DPM’ for the sake of convenience) as
chairman to run the residential school in buildings on rental basis until
construction is completed; that this Court is informed that said Project
Director is Director of Schools, Government of Manipur; that thereafter, as
regards the residential school in Khurai under SSA (said school), a 14
(fourteen) member adhoc committee was constituted in a meeting
convened by the then local legislator (MLA) on 24.09.2012; that this 14
(fourteen) member adhoc committee was duly approved by the
DC/Chairman of the District Board of Education, SSA Imphal East on
17.10.2012; that in the interregnum the adhoc committee appointed
12(twelve) individuals {7(seven) teaching staff and 5 (five) non-teaching
staff}; t