Gauhati High Court
Page No.# 1/2 vs Aruna Sundararajan And 5 Ors on 19 August, 2024
Page No.# 1/21
GAHC010035272018
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
(HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : Cont.Cas(C)/83/2018
BINENDRA BASUMATARY AND 16 ORS.
S/O- LATE RAMENDRA BASUMATARY, R/O- MERBANG CHUBA VILLAGE,
P.O- BENGBARI, DIST- DARRANG, ASSAM- 784523
2: ATUL CHANDRA DEKA
S/O- LATE MADAN DEKA
R/O- BATABARI VILL
P.O- MAZBAT
DIST- UDALGURI
ASSAM- 784507
3: SAKIRAM MAJHI
S/O- LATE DURGARAM MAJHI
R/O- OUBARI VILLAGE
P.O- THELAMARA
DIST- SONITPUR
ASSAM- 784149
4: KARUNA CH. LAHKAR
S/O- LATE DASHARATH LAHKAR
R/O- NIMAIGARH VILLAGE
P.O- RANGAPARA
DIST- SONITPUR
ASSAM- 784505
5: BISWAJIT MALAKAR
S/O- LATE SATINDRA MALAKAR
R/O- WARD NO. 8 VILL
SANKAR MANDIR ROAD
P.O- DHEKIAJULI
DIST- SONITPUR
ASSAM- 784110
6: MINA DAS
Page No.# 2/21
W/O- LATE JAMINI DAS
R/O- WARD NO. 10
VILL
NOZARAPAR
P.O- DHEKIAJULI
DIST- SONITPUR
ASSAM- 784110
7: PARAMITA DEY
W/O- LATE NARAYAN CHANDRA DEY
R/O- WARD NO. 8 VILLAGE
SANKAR MANDIR ROAD
P.O- DHEKIAJULI
DIST- SONITPUR
ASSAM- 784110
8: ANUP KUMAR DUTTA
S/O- SRI AMAL DUTTA
R/O- WARD NO. 3
VIVEKANANDA ROAD
P.O- RANGAPARA
DHEKIAJULI
DIST- SONITPUR
ASSAM- 784110
9: SANJAY KUMAR DEB
S/O- LATE NANI GOPAL DEB
R/O- WARD NO. 4 VILLAGE
SATSANG BIHAR
P.O- RANGAPARA
DIST- SONITPUR
ASSAM- 784505
10: DINAKANTA GHATOWAL
S/O- SRI FAGURAM GHATOWAL
R/O- KALAKUCHI VILLAGE
P.O- THELARAM
DIST- SONITPUR
ASSAM- 784149
11: ROHINIKANTA BASUMATARY
S/O- SRI GUNIRAM BASUMATARY
R/O- RAJABASTI VILLAGE
P.O- KAJIAMATI
DIST- DARRANG
ASSAM- 784509
12: RAJAT BHATTACHARJEE
Page No.# 3/21
S/O- RAJENDRA BHATTACHARJEE
R/O- JALUKBARI VILLAGE
P.O- TANGLA
DIST- DARRANG
ASSAM- 784521
13: RAJIN KUMAR BORO
S/O- DANDIRAM BORA
R/O- NO.1 SAPKHATI VILLAGE
P.O- UDALGURI
DIST- DARRANG
ASSAM- 784509
14: KAMALESHWAR NARARY
S/O- SRI UPEN NARZARY
R/O- LAHAPARA VILLAGE
P.O- BEHAPARA
DIST- KAMRUP
ASSAM- 781365
15: BIREN RABHA
S/O- SRI RABINDRA RABHA
R/O- HABIGAON VILLAGE
P.O- TAMULBARI (HARISINGA)
DIST- DARRANG
ASSAM- 784510
16: PIAR ALI
S/O- MOHSEN ALI
R/O- SINGHIMARI VILLAGE
P.O- KANDAJAN
DIST- DARRANG
ASSAM- 784125
17: MOINUL HAQUE
S/O- LATE AYUB ALI
R/O- BANSERIA VILLAGE
P.O- TANGLA
DIST- UDALGURI
ASSAM- 78452
VERSUS
ARUNA SUNDARARAJAN AND 5 ORS.
THE SECRETARY TO THE DEPTT. OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS, GOVT OF
INDIA, NEW DELHI
2:SUJATA RAY
Page No.# 4/21
THE DIRECTOR (HRD) BSNL CORPORATE OFFICE
BHARAT SANCHAR BHAWAN
HARISH CHANDRA MATHUR LANE
JANPATH
NEW DELHI- 110001
3:ANUPAM SHRIVASTAVA
THE CHAIRMAN CUM MANAGING DIRECTOR
BSNL CORPORATE OFFICE 10TH FLOOR
STATESMAN HOUSE
NEW DELHI- 01
4:AVINNA KUMAR PAHI
CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER (TELECOM)
ASSAM CIRCLE
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
GUWAHATI-01.
5:INDRA GOVIN SOREN
GENERAL MANAGER (TELECOM)
DISTRICT-TEZPUR
SSA
BSNL
TEZPUR-784001.
6:THE DISTRICT TELECOM ENGINEER
TEZPUR SSA
BSNL
TEZPUR- 78400
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A CHOUDHURY, MR N J DAS,MR. P K DAS,MR. D
DEKA,MR. N MAHAJAN
Advocate for the Respondent : ,
Linked Case : Cont.Cas(C)/466/2023
BABUL SAIKIA AND 18 ORS
S/O- LT. DAMBARU SAIKIA
VILL.- BAMGAON
P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM
Page No.# 5/21
2: BIREN BORAH
S/O- SRI LOKESWAR BORAH
VILL. AND P.O.- CHOTIA
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
3: GAGAN BHUYAN
S/O- LT. THULESWAR BHUYAN
VILL.- BARBHUYAN
P.O.- CHOTIA
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
4: BIREN DAS
S/O- LT. DULAN DAS
VILL.- KHORASIMALU
P.O.- GERUABARI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
5: ABANI BARUAH
S/O- LT. BHOLA BARUAH
VILL.- CHOTI BARUAH CHUBURI
P.O.- CHOTIA
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
6: TILAK BORAH
S/O- LT. LABORAM BORAH
VILL.- BANGAON
P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
7: PULIN BORAH
S/O- LT. PURNA KANTA BORAH
VILL.- MAZGAON
P.O.- TEZPUR
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
8: GOBINDA BHUYAN
S/O- LT. TARINI BHUYAN
VILL.- BANGAON
P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
Page No.# 6/21
9: MS. TUNMONI SAIKIA
D/O- LT. PABITRA SAIKIA
VILL.- KOCHGAON
P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
10: DHARMENDRA KR. RAY
S/O- RAJENDRA RAY
R/O VILL. AND P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
11: AMBIKA BARMAN
S/O- LT. PRANESWAR BARMAN
R/O VILL-RONGAMURY
PABHOI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
12: BASANTA BHUYAN
S/O- LT. DHATU RAM BHUYAN
R/O VILL.- GOPALPUR
P.O.- ALENGISATRA
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
13: PRABHAT KALITA
S/O- LT. DHIRA DUTTA KALITA
VILL.- NAHARANI
P.O.- BALICHANG
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
14: DIPEN BHUYAN
S/O- LT. DEBESWAR BHUYAN
R/O VILL.- BARACHUK
P.O.- KHATARGAON (KALABARI)
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
15: JITEN SARMAH
S/O- LT. NITYANANDA SARMAH
VILL.- BARGHOGIA
P.O.- JAMUGURIHAT
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
Page No.# 7/21
16: GOBINDA BORAH
S/O- SIVANATH BORAH
R/O P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
17: JITU SARMAH
S/O- LT. RABIRAM SARMAH
VILL.- BANGAON
P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
18: KHARGESWAR BORAH
S/O- LT. LEBORAM BORAH
VILL.- RANGAMATI
P.O.- PANBOI
P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
SONITPUR
ASSAM.
19: NIGAM SWARGIARY
S/O- RAGHUNATH SWARGIARY
VILL.- BHELUGURI
P.O.- BARPAAM TINIALI
P.O.- BISWANATH CHARIALI
DIST.- SONITPUR
ASSAM.
VERSUS
MS. ARUNA SUNDARARAJAN
IAS AND 5 ORS.
THE SECRETARY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
NEW DELHI
2:SMT. SUJATA RAY
THE DIRECTOR (HRD)
BSNL CORPORATE OFFICE
BHARAT SANCHAR BHAVAN
HARISH CHANDRA MATHUR LANE
JANPATH
NEW DELHI-110001
3:ANUPAM SHRIVASTAVA
THE CHAIRMAN-CUM-MANAGING DIRECTOR
BSNL
Page No.# 8/21
CORPORATE OFFICE
10TH FLOOR
STATESMAN HOUSE
NEW DELHI-1
4:SANDEEP GOVIL
THE CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER (TELECOM)
ASSAM TELECOM CIRCLE
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
4TH FLOOR
PANBAZAR
GUWAHATI-781001
ASSAM
5:M.S. BECK
THE GENERAL MANAGER
(TELECOM) DISTRICT
TEZPUR SSA
BSNL
TEZPUR-784001
6:MONOJ KUMAR KARKI
THE TELECOM DISTRICT ENGINEER
TEZPUR SSA
BSNL
TEZPUR-784001
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Advocate for : MR. N BORAH Advocate for : appearing for MS. ARUNA SUNDARARAJAN IAS AND 5 ORS.
Linked Case : Cont.Cas(C)/81/2018 GOJEN BARUAH AND 7 ORS. S/O- LATE NARAYAN BARUAH R/O- VILL- BHERBARGHAT P.O AND P.S- MONGALDOI DIST- DARRANG ASSAM- 784125 2: SWAPAN KUMAR SAHA S/O- LATE HEMANTA KUMAR SAHA R/O- VILL- GOPAL NAGAR P.O AND P.S- KHARUPETIA DIST- DARRANG ASSAM- 784125 Page No.# 9/21 3: TAIZUDDIN AHMED S/O- MD. TAZIM ALI R/O- VILL- SONAWA P.O AND P.S- SIPAJHAR DIST- DARRANG ASSAM- 784125 4: INARMAL GOWALA S/O- LATE TILAK GOWALA R/O- VILL- UDALGURI P.O AND P.S- UDALGURI DIST- UDALGURI ASSAM- 784509 5: PRABIN CHANDRA BORO S/O- PATIRAM BORO R/O- VILL- BORKALA P.O AND P.S- DHULA DIST- DARRANG ASSAM- 784146 6: INDIRA BORA S/O- SRI GAJEN BARUAH R/O- VILL- BHEBERAGHAT P.O AND P.S- MANGALDOI DIST- DARRANG ASSAM- 784125 7: SADHIRAM DEKA S/O- LATE JAGAT CHANDRA DEKA R/O- VILL- BHEBERAGHAT WARD NO.10 P.O AND P.S- MANGALDOI DIST- DARRANG ASSAM- 784145 8: KISHOR KUMAR PATHAK S/O- LATE JOGENDRA NATH PATHAK R/O- VILL- MILANPUR P.O- BISWANATH CHARIALI DIST- SONITPUR ASSAM- 784176 VERSUS ARUNA SUNDARARAJAN AND 5 ORS. THE SECRETARY TO THE DEPTT. OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS GOVT OF INDIA Page No.# 10/21 NEW DELHI-01 2:SUJATA RAY THE DIRECTOR(HRD) BSNL CORPORATE OFFICE BHARAT SANCHAR BHAWAN HARISH CHANDRA MATHUR LANE JANPATH NEW DELHI- 110001 3:ANUPAM SHRIVASTAVA THE CHAIRMAN CUM MANAGING DIRECTOR BSNL CORPORATE OFFICE 10TH FLOOR STATESMAN HOUSE NEW DELHI-01 4:AVINNA KUMAR PAHI THE CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER (TELECOM) ASSAM CIRCLE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING GUWAHATI- 01 5:INDRA GOVIN SOREN THE GENERAL MANAGER(TELECOM) DIST- TEZPUR SSA BSNL TEZPUR- 784001 6:MONOJ KUMAR KARKI THE TELECOM DISTRICT ENGINEER TEZPUR SSA BSNL TEZPUR-784001.
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Advocate for : MR. A CHOUDHURY Advocate for : appearing for ARUNA SUNDARARAJAN AND 5 ORS.
Linked Case : Cont.Cas(C)/82/2018 KAMAL CHANDRA NATH AND 43 ORS. S/O LT. PALAN NATH R/O VILL- CHAULDHUABALI P.O. GOGAMUKH DIST. DHEMAJI Page No.# 11/21 ASSAM PIN - 787034 2: SRI MOTILAL MILI S/OLT. RUPESHWAR MILI R/O VILL- ADISUTI GAON P.O. KHAGA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787052.
3: SRI GHANAKANTA SONOWAL S/O LT. BOLURAM SONOWAL R/O VILL- KADAM KACHARI P.O. CHARAIMORIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787032.
4: SRI JOGESWAR BORAH S/O LT. RUPESHWAR BORAH R/O VILL- KUCHIAMARI DIST.LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787001.
5: SRI GIRIDHAR SAIKIA S/O LT. DINESWAR SAIKIA R/O NAHARANI VILLAGE P.O. HANDAHKHUA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787054.
6: SRI ANIL NATH S/O ATUL NATH R/O GUGAMUKH NAGAON VILLAGE P.O. BOGINADI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787054.
7: SRI DIMBESWAR SONOWAL S/O LT. KALINATH SONOWAL R/O VILL- NALANISUK P.O. BAGINADI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN - 7877030.
Page No.# 12/21 8: SRI JOGEN SONOWAL S/O LT. LAKHAN SONOWAL R/O VILL- SONARDHEKI P.O. SONARDHEKI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787052.
9: SRI KHAGESWAR SONOWAL S/O SRI POWAL SONOWAL R/O VILL- NALANISUK P.O. BOGINADI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787030.
10: SRI MAHENDRA CHELLENG S/O SRI GAYARAM CHELLENG R/O VILL- GABALDUBI BALIGAON P.O. BOGALDUBI DIST. LAKHIMPOUR ASSAM- 787030.
11: SRI DILIP NEOG S/O LT. KOSHESWAR NEOG R/O VILL- DHEKIAJULI (BOISHNAVPUR) P.O.JORIGURI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN - 784160.
12: RATNESWAR SONOWAL S/O LT. DHARMESWAR SONOWAL R/O VILL- BHARTI SONOWAL GAON P.O. PHUKANARHAT DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787001.
13: SRI NIRMAL PAWE S/O LT. NANDI RAM PAWE R/O VILL- UJANI MIRI GOAN P.O. PAHUMARA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787001 Page No.# 13/21 14: SRI CHENIRAM BORAH S/O LT. PRAFULLA BORA R/O P.O. DHAKUAKHANA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM - 787055.
15: SRI ATUL SONOWAL S/O LT. LAKHI SONOWAL R/O VILL- BHARTI SONOWAL GAON P.O. PHUKANARHAT DIST. LAKHIMPUR- 787052 16: SRI JITEN THENGAL S/O SRI BHIMA THENGAL R/O VILL- KUCHIAMARA P.O. BADHAKARA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN -787032.
17: SRI LOHIT BORAH S/OLT. DHANIRAM BORAH R/O VILL- KADAM MOINAPARA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN - 787032.
18: SRI DHANIRAM BASUMATARY S/O LT. BOLURAM BASUMATARY R/O VILL- KUCHIMARI P.O. BADHAKARA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787032.
19: SRI RUDRA THENGAL S/O SRI KALIRAM THENGAL R/O VILL- KUCHIMARI GOAN P.O. BADHAKARA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787032.
20: SRI BALU SAIKIA S/OLT. HINGI SAIKIA R/O VILL- KUCHIMARI P.O. BADHAKARA Page No.# 14/21 DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM - 787032.
21: SRI DIBYA SONOWAL S/O SRI REBAT SONOWAL R/O VILL- BHARTI SONOWAL GAON P.O. PHUKANARHAT DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN - 787052 22: SRI PRAFULLA SONOWAL S/O LT. GOPAL SONOWAL R/O VILL- KUCHIAMARA P.O. BADHAKARA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN - 787032.
23: SRI MOINA SONOWAL S/O LT. SOMESWAR SONOWAL R/O VILL- KUCHIAMARA P.O. BADHAKARA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM - 787032 24: SRI LILARAM PAYENG S/O LT. NARAYAN PAYENG R/O VILL- UBHAT CHAMPARA P.O. MORNOI BEBEJIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN - 787058.
25: SRI TULAN THENGAL S/O LT. BALURAM THENGAL R/O VILL- KUCHIAMARA P.O. BADHAKARA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787032.
26: SRI GAHIN SONOWAL S/O LT. KHUTIRAM SONOWAL R/O VILL- BHARTI SONOWAL GAON Page No.# 15/21 P.O. SONARDHEKI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM-787052.
27: SMTI. NIJU HAZARIKA W/O SRI AJIT HAZARIKA R/O VILL- JORHATIA GAON P.O. CHARAIMARIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787032.
28: SRI GHANA SONOWAL S/O LT. BIRASON SONOWAL R/O VILL- SONARDHEKI P.O. SONARDHEKI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN - 787052.
29: SRI REBAT SONOWAL S/O SRI MUNINDRA SONOWAL R/O VILL- NALANICHUK P.O. BAGINADI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM-78030 30: SRI GOBIN SONOWAL S/O LT. THANESWAR SONOWAL R/O NAHARANI VILL- TELAHIMAJGAON P.O. SONARDHEKI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787052.
31: SRI ROHIT SONOWAL S/O SRI RUDRA SONOWAL R/O VILL- GAGALDHUBI P.O. BOGINADI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787030.
32: SRI LOHIT SONOWAL S/O SRI DAYARAM SONOWAL R/O VILL- BAPUCHANG P.O. ARADHAL DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787057.
33: SRI ROBIN DOLEY Page No.# 16/21 S/O LT. TADUK DOLEY R/O VILL- JIADHAL DIGHAL GORAH P.O. JIADHAL CHARIALI DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787057.
34: SRI BIMAN KUMAR PAYENG S/O LT. NONDESWAR PAYENG R/O VILL- DUSUTIMUKH P.O. KHUBALIA DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787057.
35: SRI SUNANDA SONOWAL S/O LT. ROHESWAR SONOWAL R/O VILL- BAPUCHANG P.O. ARADHAL DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787057.
36: SRI ANANDA SONOWAL S/O LT. DIMBESWAR SONOWAL R/O VILL- BAPUCHANG P.O. ARADHAL DIST. LAKHIMPUR ASSAM- 787057.
37: SRI KALIPAD BORAH S/O LT. TILESWAR BORAH R/O VILL- BHAJUGAON P.O. JIADHAL CHARIALI DIST. DHEMAJI ASSAM- 787057.
38: SRI DINESH PEGU S/O LT. GAM PEGU R/O VILL- RATANPUR P.O. DHEMAJI DIST. DHEMAJI ASSAM- 787057.
39: SRI BABUL BORA S/O ROKHESWAR BORA R/O VILL- KULAPATHAR BALIGAON P.O. ARADHAL DIST. DHEMAJI A SSAM- 787057.
Page No.# 17/21 40: SRI THAGIRAM TAYE S/O LT.PHUKAN TAYE R/O VILL- RAICHAPRI DOLOPARA P.O. JAMUGURI DIST. DHEMAJI ASSAM- 787057.
41: SRI NOBIN SONOWAL S/O SRI RAJANI SONOWAL R/O VILL- BAPUCHANG P.O. ARADHAL DIST. DHEMAJI A SSAM- 787057.
42: SRI BIBEKANANDA PEGU S/O SRI PADMADHAR PEGU R/O VILL- BORPAMUA P.O. JENGERMUKH DIST. JORHAT A SSAM- 785105.
43: SRI KHEMSON PEGU S/O LT. GONESWAR PEGU R/O VILL- KEKURI P.O. JIADHAL DIST. DHEMAJI ASSAM PIN -787057 44: SRI JAYANTA PHUKAN S/O LT. GONGADHAR PHUKAN R/O VILL- KOCHOITING P.O. HATIGARH DIST. DHEMAJI ASSAM- 787057.
VERSUS ARUNA SUNDARARAJAN AND 5 ORS. THE SECRETARY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS GOVT. OF INDIA NEW DELHI.
2:SMTI. SUJATA RAY THE DIRECTOR (HRD) BSNL CORPORATE OFFICE BHARAT SANCHAR BHAWAN Page No.# 18/21 HARISH CHANDRA MATHUR LANE JANPATH NEW DELHI- 110001.
3:ANUPAM SHRIVASTAVA THE CHAIRMAN-CUM- MANAGING DIRECTOR BSNL CORPORATE OFFICE 10TH FLOOR STATEMAN HOUSE NEW DELHI-1.
4:AVINNA KUMAR PAHI THE CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER (TELECOM) ASSAM CIRCLE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING GUWAHATI -01.
5:INDRA GOVIN SOREN THE GENERAL MANAGER (TELECOM) DIST. TEZPUR SSA BSNL TEZPUR- 784001.
6:MONOJ KUMAR KARKI THE TELECOM DISTRICT ENGINEER TEZPUR SSA BSNL TEZPUR- 784001.
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Advocate for : MR A CHOUDHURY Advocate for : appearing for ARUNA SUNDARARAJAN AND 5 ORS.
BEFORE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. VIJAY BISHNOI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KARDAK ETE Date : 19.08.2024.
(Vijay Bishnoi, CJ) Page No.# 19/21 These Contempt Petitions are filed by the petitioners, complaining that the respondents have not complied with the directions given by this Court vide order dated 15.06.2017, in WP(C) No.2229/2016, WP(C) No.2228/2016, WP(C) No.2058/2016 and the order dated 30.08.2017, passed in WP(C) No.5353/2015
2. It is contended that the Division Bench of this Court has directed the respondents to grant them benefits flowing out of the order dated 27.05.1996, by which the temporary status under the Casual Labours (Grant of Temporary Status & Regularization) Scheme was conferred. It is further directed by the Division Bench to the respondent BSNL Authority that it shall work out benefits of the petitioners which they are entitled to.
3. During the pendency of these Contempt Petitions, the matter went upto the Hon'ble Supreme Court. However, after the disposal of the cases before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, ultimately the BSNL Authority has issued an order dated 28.07.2023, whereby Temporary Status Majdoor (TSM) was granted to the petitioners, pursuant to the order dated 15.06.2017, passed by the Division Bench of this Court.
4. It is noticed that the order also indicates the terms and conditions, on the basis of which the TSM status was granted to the petitioners and the condition No.(iii)(e) provides that after rendering three years continuous service on attainment of temporary status, the Casual Labours would be treated at par with temporary Grade 'D' employees for the purpose of contribution of G.P.F. & would also further be eligible for the grant of Festival Advance/Flood Advance on the same conditions as per applicable to temporary Grade 'D' employees, provided they furnish two sureties from permanent Government servant of this department.
Page No.# 20/21
5. Later on, vide Corrigendum dated 12.10.2023, condition No.(iii)(e) was modified and provided that "Existing EPF scheme will be continued for these Casual Laborers who have been granted TSM Status. Besides, the facility of ESI and Gratuity will also be extended to them".
6. Learned counsel for the petitioners have submitted that the action of the respondent BSNL of withdraw the benefit of GPF Scheme from the petitioners would amount to nullifying the order passed by this Court dated 15.06.2017, whereby it is specifically directed that the petitioners be granted the TSM status as per the Casual Labours (Grant of Temporary Status & Regularization) Scheme. It is submitted that as per the said scheme, the cases of the petitioners are covered under the GPF Scheme and not under the EPF Scheme.
7. An additional affidavit is filed on behalf of the respondent BSNL on 27.06.2024, wherein it is mentioned that the BSNL was formed on 01.10.2000 and the petitioners are absorbed in the BSNL from the said date only. It is further submitted that as per Rule 37 A of the CCS (Pension) Rules, particularly Sub-Rule 21 to 24, the BSNL is required to devise its own pension scheme and make arrangements for funding and disbursing pensionary benefits. It is contended that the persons, who were working in the DoT and continuing at the time of creation of the BSNL, are only covered under the GPF Scheme, whereas the persons who are absorbed on 01.10.2000 in the BSNL are covered under the EPF Scheme. It is also submitted that the issue of coverage of GPF of Casual Laborers, regularized in BSNL is pending adjudication before the Hon'ble Supreme Court since 2012 and the same has not been decided till date. It is contended that in the above facts and circumstances, the corrigendum dated 12.10.2023 is issued. Learned counsel has therefore, submitted that the order passed by this Court on 15.06.2017, has substantially been complied with.
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8. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and after going through the additional affidavit filed on behalf of the BSNL, we are of the view that the order dated 15.06.2017, passed by this Court is substantially complied with. However, it is made clear that if the petitioners are being aggrieved of, with the action of the respondents of applying EPF Scheme in their cases, they are free to challenge the same by availing appropriate remedy.
9. With these observations, these Contempt Petitions are disposed of.
JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE Comparing Assistant