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2. The facts, in capsulized form, read thus : 
2.1   Petitioners of Special Civil Application No.  13621 of 2014 are possessing Diploma in Civil  Engineering. They were appointed to the post of  Technical Assistant on different dates between  16th  June   2008   and   1st  March   2012   under   the  HC-NIC Page 8 of 184 Created On Tue Jul 05 02:44:58 IST 2016 Mahatma   Gandhi   National   Rural   Employment  Guarantee   Scheme   on   contractual   basis   for   a  fixed term of 11 months. Such appointment came  to   be   renewed   from   time   to   time   after   a  technical break. The petitioners thus have put  in total service of nearly 2 to 6 years. 2.2  It is the say of the petitioners that on 23rd  December   2013,   the   Government   of   Gujarat   in  Panchayat,   Rural   Housing   &   Rural   Development  Department issued a Resolution stipulating that  all   the   contractual   appointments   made   on   the  establishment  of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment Guarantee Scheme ["hereinafter shall  be referred to as, "the MANREG Scheme"] shall  be terminated on expiry of contractual period  ie., 28th  February 2014 and the posts shall be  filled in by way of fresh recruitment made on  the   strength   of   revised   qualifications   and  experience; as may be prescribed.
2.6 It is the say of the petitioners that under  Section 18 of the Act, the State Government has  an obligation to make available to the District  Programme   Coordinator   and   Programme   Officers,  necessary   staff   and   technical   support   for  smooth implementation of the Scheme.  Necessary  establishment was sanctioned at the State level  by a Resolution dated 29th  June 2006 issued by  the   Panchayat,   Rural   Housing   &   Rural  Development   Department.   Members   of  establishments   are   also   appointed   on   fixed  monthly   pay   on   contractual   basis  without   any  allowances   for   a   period   of   11   months. 

Resolution   dated   12th  December   2008   issued   by  the     Panchayat,   Rural   Housing   &   Rural  Development Department also prescribes  minimum  HC-NIC Page 11 of 184 Created On Tue Jul 05 02:44:58 IST 2016 qualification   for   different   cadres   at   State,  District,   Taluka   and   Village   level  establishments.   The   fixed   monthly   pay   was  linked with experience of candidates concerned.  2.7   For   the   post   of   Technical   Assistant,   the  minimum qualification prescribed is "Diploma in  Civil Engineering with one year's experience".  If   the   candidates   with   this   minimum  qualification   are   not   available,   then   the  candidates   qualified   to   be   "Surveyor   with  knowledge   in   Computer   Operations",   are   to   be  selected.   It   is   alleged   that   due   to   meagre  fixed   monthly   pay,   the   qualified   and  experienced   persons   have   started   leaving   the  job.   This   has   resulted   into   hampering   of   the  smooth functioning and operation of the Scheme.  On realizing this, the Panchayat, Rural Housing  &   Rural   Development   Department  came   out   with  another   Resolution   dated   15th  September   2010  sanctioning   establishment   upto   28th  February  2014   and   by   prescribing   the   minimum  qualification   and   experience   required  for  various   cadres   and   posts   along   with   monthly  HC-NIC Page 12 of 184 Created On Tue Jul 05 02:44:58 IST 2016 fixed pay. By way of incentive, the payment was  increased every year by a maximum of 15% of the  pay on the basis of performance of the employee  concerned.   For   termination   of  contract   of  employment, however, one month's notice or pay  in lieu of notice has been contemplated.  2.8 It   is   further   the   say   of   the   petitioners  that monthly fixed pay of Technical Assistants  is   revised   from   Rs.   10,000/=   to   Rs.   13,000/=  for   those   who   possess   Diploma   in   Civil  Engineering with one year's experience and for  qualified   Surveyors   working   as   Technical  Assistants, the fixed monthly salary is revised  to Rs. 8,000/= per month from Rs. 5,000/= pm.  2.9  According to the petitioners, on 23rd December  2013, the  said Department of Panchayat, Rural  Housing   &   Rural   Development   came   out   with   a  Resolution   stipulating   that   all   contractual  appointments made on the establishment of the  Scheme   should   be   terminated   on   expiry   of  contractual period  ie., on 28th  February 2014.  The said Resolution further provides that all  HC-NIC Page 13 of 184 Created On Tue Jul 05 02:44:58 IST 2016 the posts on the establishment should be filled  in by way of fresh recruitment to be made on  the   basis   of   revised   qualification   and  experience.   However,   there   are   no   changes   in  the   qualification   and   experience   required   for  the post of Technical Assistant nor was there  any change in the pay, which was fixed at Rs.  13,000/=.   In   fact,   with   addition   of   annual  increments granted to the petitioners by virtue  of   Resolution   dated   15th  September   2010,   they  are getting more than Rs. 13,000/= per month.  2.10 In essence, it is the say of the petitioners  that in the matter of recruitment  on the post  of Technical Assistant, the petitioners must be  given   priority   and   preference,   if   the  recruitment process is conducted in accordance  with  Government  Resolution  dated  23rd  December  2013 and 14th  August 2014. It is wrong on the  part   of   the   respondents   to   compel   the  petitioners to  undergo the recruitment process  once again  when they in fact not only possess  requisite   qualification,   but   also,   experience  HC-NIC Page 14 of 184 Created On Tue Jul 05 02:44:58 IST 2016 for the said post. It is their say that such  action on the part of respondents is contrary  to the legitimate expectation and in violation  of   Article   14   of   the   Constitution   of   India.  Moreover,   the   petitioners   cannot   be   compelled  to   undergo   for   the   second   time,   the   same  recruitment process. They have thus challenged  the   Government   Resolution   dated   23rd  December  2013   and   14th  August   2014   with   the   following  prayers : 

4.1  It is not being disputed that the petitioners  were appointed on fixed term contractual basis  for a period of three years, however, they had  sought   directions   to   extend   the   said  contractual appointment for a further period of  three years on respective posts without there  being   any   legal   right   much   less   fundamental  right   in   their   favour.   According   to   the  respondent, the Legislature has enacted an Act  inter alia providing for 100 days of guaranteed  wage­employment   in   a   financial   year   to   every  rural household, whose adult member volunteers  to   do   unskilled   manual   work.   This   being   a  HC-NIC Page 25 of 184 Created On Tue Jul 05 02:44:58 IST 2016 demand   driven   programme,   where   provision   of  work is triggered by the demand for work by the  wage­seekers.   It   is   further   the   say   of   the  respondent   that   as   per   the   provisions   of  Section 18 of the Act, it is obligatory on the  State   to   make   available   to   the   District  Programme   Coordinator   and   Programme   Officers,  necessary staff and technical support; as may  be   necessary   for   effective   implementation   of  the   Scheme.   However,   it   is   the   discretion   of  the   State   to   make   necessary   arrangement   of  staff and   technical support, as it may think  necessary.  Thus, the object behind proviso is  to see that the staff and technical support is  provided   as   and   when   and   wherever   it   is  required. The Operational Guidelines, 2013 have  been   formulated   by   the   Ministry   of   Rural  Development, as per Chapter XII of the Act. 4.2  It is further contended that the State in its  Panchayats,   Rural   Housing   &   Rural   Development  Department   had   issued   a   Resolution   dated   15th  September   2010   sanctioning   the   Establishment  for   proper   implementation   of   the   Scheme.   The  HC-NIC Page 26 of 184 Created On Tue Jul 05 02:44:58 IST 2016 said   Resolution   provides   for   a   State   level;  District level, Taluka level and Village level  establishments,   whereunder,   eleven   posts   have  been sanctioned for the State level, which are  manned   by   the   Government   employees   posted   on  deputation; and employees for nine (9) cadres  at   the   State   level  are   being   employed   on  contractual basis. The said pattern is followed  at District level and Taluka level as well. It  is further added that the seven cadres, each at  District level and Taluka level plus one cadre  at Village level and nine cadres at State level  have   been  sanctioned   by   the   Government  Resolution   dated   15th  September   2010   and   for  the   said   respective   cadres,   the   total   posts  created   for   these   cadres   at   District,   Taluka  and Village levels are 15592.