Gauhati High Court
WP(C)/2684/2026 of TAJIM BASUMATARY Vs THE STATE OF ASSAM AND OTHRS on 24 May 2026
GAHC010098712026 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/2684/2026 TAJIM BASUMATARY S/O- SRI. UMESH BASUMATARY, R/O- VILL- SIMOLGURI KOILA MOILA, P.O.- KOILA MOILA, DIST.- CHIRANG, B.T.C, ASSAM, 2: MEDA GOYARY S/O- SRI
GAHC010098712026
undefined
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
(HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : WP(C)/2684/2026
TAJIM BASUMATARY
S/O- SRI. UMESH BASUMATARY, R/O- VILL- SIMOLGURI KOILA MOILA, P.O.- KOILA MOILA, DIST.- CHIRANG, B.T.C, ASSAM, 2: MEDA GOYARY
S/O- SRI SINDRA GOYARY
R/O- VILL- NANGDARBIL
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG B.T.C.
ASSAM
3: DARSHAD BARHMA
S/O- SRI JALESWAR BRAHMA
R/O- VILL- NO. 1 KACHUBIL
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
4: BIRKHANG BRAHMA
S/O- SRI RAJANI BRAHMA
R/O- VILL- NO. 1 KACHUBIL
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
5: MIJING BORO
S/O- SRI BHABEN BORO
R/O- VILL- DANSWRANG
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
6: SWMKWR BORO
S/O- SRI MAHENDRA BORO
R/O- VILL- NC DAMUGAON
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
7: NWGWRSING BRAHMA
S/O- SRI THIREN BRAHMA
R/O- VILL- NO.4A MWINAGURI
P.O.- SILBARI ABADIPARA
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
8: MANJIT BRAHMA
S/O- SRI KARTENG BRAHMA
R/O- VILL- DOGORPARA
P.O.- CHAPAGURI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
9: MONIL NARZARY
S/O- SRI BAW NARZARY
R/O- VILL- MAKRAGAON
P.O.- KUNGKRAJHORA
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
10: SWMKWR NARZARY
S/O- SRI BIRENDRA NARZARY
R/O- VILL- KOILA MOILA
P.O.- KOILA MOILA
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
11: DERHASAT BORO
S/O- SRI LABA RAM BORO
R/O- VILL- NO. 1 KACHUBIL
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
12: KRIPANANDA RAY
S/O- LOHIT RAY
R/O- VILL- NO.1 BARPATHAR
P.O.- BARPATHAR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
13: RUDRASING BORO
S/O- RANSING BORO
R/O- VILL- NO.3 CHOURANG
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
14: BALEN RAY
S/O- NIRMAL RAY
R/O- VILL- BARSHIJHAR
P.O.- BORPATHAR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
15: SRI BHUPEN CHANDRA RAY
S/O- LT. LOHIT RAY
R/O- VILL- NO. 1 BARPATHAR
P.O.- BARPATHAR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
16: LAKHI KANTA KALITA
S/O- MAHINDRA KALITA
R/O- VILL- NO. 2 BARPATHAR
P.O.- BARPATHAR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
17: GOBINDA TUDU
S/O- GOPINATH TUDU
R/O- VILL- MOHANPUR
P.O.- DEASRI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
18: SAKAL MURMU
S/O- BAJUN MURMU
R/O- DEOSRI F/BLOCK
P.O.- DESARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
19: BIKRAM HASDA
S/O- LOKHIRAM HASDA
R/O- VILL- PAHARPUR
P.O.- BISMURI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
20: SABITA BRAHMA
W/O- PRAFULLA BRAHMA
R/O- VILL- DONGSIAPARA NO.1
P.O.- B/LADANGURI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
21: HIMALAYA BORO
S/O- DHARMESWAR BORO
R/O- VILL- PANBARI
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
22: JWNGSAR BORO
S/O- BABURAM BORO
R/O- VILL- NO.1 CHOURANG
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
23: RABIN MARDI
S/O- KANU MARDI
R/O- VILL- DEASRI F/BLOCK
P.O.- DEOSRI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
24: SANSUNWI BASUMATARY
D/O- MALENDRA BASUMATARY
R/O- VILL- KUNGKHURAJHORA
P.O.- KUNGKHURAJHORA
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
25: MANOJ MUCHAHARY
S/O- SURAJ MUCHAHARY
R/O- VILL- NO. 2 SARAGAON
P.O.- HANCHARA
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
26: MWGTHANG BRAHMA
S/O- LT. BISTU RAM BRAHMA
R/O- VILL- PANBARI
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
27: BISHNU MUCHAHARY
S/O- BADAM MUCHAHARY
R/O- VILL- NO. 3 CHOURANG
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
28: ANARJOHN NARZARY
S/O- JONOTA NARZARY
R/O- VILL- BELGURY
P.O.- MALIVITA
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
29: RWDWM MUCHAHARY
S/O- KAMALA MUCHAHARY
R/O- VILL- ULUBARI
P.O.- SILIKHAGURI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
30: SANTIRAM NARZARY
S/O- KANAK NARZARY
R/O- VILL- ULUBARI
P.O.- SILIKHAGURI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
31: GEORGE NARZARY
S/O- HEBOL NARZARY
R/O- VILL- 1 NO. TUKRAJHAR
P.O.- TUKRAJHAR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
32: BARUN CH RAY
S/O- LOHIT RAY
R/O- VILL- BARPATHAR NO. 1
P.O.- BARPATHAR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
33: NITANANDA RAY
S/O- NIRMAL RAY
R/O- VILL- BARSIJHAR
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
34: KAMISON RAY
S/O- LOHIT RAY
R/O- VILL- BARPATHAR NO. 1
P.O.- BARPATHAR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
35: PRANITA ISWARY
C/O- KARENDRA ISWARY
R/O- VILL- GOKULKATA
P.O.- GOKULKATA
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
36: SANJITA ISWARY
D/O- KARENDRA ISWARY
R/O- VILL- NO. 1 TUKRAJHAR
P.O.- NO. 1 TUKRAJHAN
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
37: SANJIB SWARGIARY
S/O- NAGA SWARGIARY
R/O- VILL- KALBARI
P.O.- ANANDA BAZAR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
38: PRANJIT GOYARY
S/O- CHARAN GOYARY
R/O- VILL- KUKURMARI
P.O.- DHALIGAON
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
39: SAMARIA BORGOYARY
D/O- JUYEL BORGOYARY
R/O- VILL- NO. 2 ODALGURI
P.O.- SANTIPUR
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
40: KESHAB CHANDRA RAY
S/O- PABAN RAY
R/O- VILL- SIMLAGURI
P.O.- BALLAMGURI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
41: JIRAJ NARZARY
S/O- AMOLEN NARZARY
R/O- VILL- CHANBARIKUTI
P.O.- BARIMUKH
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
42: BIDINTHA RAMCHIARY
S/O- FULEN RAMCHIARY
R/O- VILL- AMLAIGURI
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
43: FWILAO DAIMARY
S/O- KANAK DAIMARY
R/O- VILL- BAGIDWARA
P.O.- SULIAKATA
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM.
44: RIFIKHANG BORO
S/O- BIRAN BORO
R/O- VILL- NO 1 CHOURANG
P.O.- PANBARI
DIST.- CHIRANG
B.T.C. ASSAM
VERSUS
THE STATE OF ASSAM AND OTHRS
REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, ASSAM, GUWAHATI-
06.
2:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST
2.ASSAM
REHABARI
GUWAHATI-08.
3:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF
ASSAM
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
DISPUR
GUWAHATI-06
4:THE BODOLAND TERRITORIAL COUNCIL (BTC)
4.REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
KOKRAJHAR
ASSAM
PIN- 783370.
5:THE SECRETARY
FOREST DEPARTMENT
BTC
ASSAM
PIN- 783370.
6:THE COUNCIL HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREST
BTC
KOKRAJHAR
ASSAM
PIN-783370.
7:THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST
BTC
KOKRAJHAR
ASSAM
PIN-783370
8:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER
CHIRANG DIVISION
KAJALGAON
CHIRANG BTR
ASSAM
PIN-783385
9:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER
KOKRAJHAR DIVISION
KOKRAJHAR
BTR
ASSAM
PIN-783385.
10:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER
BASUGAON FOREST DEPOT
UNDER CHIRANG DIVISION
BTC
ASSAM
PIN- 783372.
11:THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER
SIDLI RANGE
RUNIKHATA
CHIRANG DIVISION
BTC
ASSAM
PIN- 783375
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. M KHAN, MR. R. AHMED,MS J AKTAR
Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, SC. BTC,SC, FINANCE
BEFORE
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH MAZUMDAR
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ORDER
25.05.2026 Heard Mr. M. Khan, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. I. Borthakur, learned Standing Counsel for the Forest Department, representing respondents No.1 and 2; Mr. A. Chaliha, learned Standing Counsel, Finance Department, for the respondent No. 3 and Ms. N. Choudhury, learned Standing Counsel for the BTC, appears for respondents Nos. 4 to 11.
2. The petitioners (147 in numbers) in the instant writ petition are working as Casual Workers in the Forest Department under the BTC. The petitioners were engaged due to shortage of manpower in the said Department, and ever since their engagement as Master Roll/Casual workers for various clubs, societies and NGOs to protect the forests and wildlife of Manas National Park, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Ripu and
Chirang Elephant Reserve Forest and other forest areas, they have been paid only a meager amount as fixed wages.
3. It is the case of the petitioners that they are entitled to get the benefits of the minimum pay scale in terms of the decision rendered by the Division Bench of this Court in State of Assam & Ors. vs. Shri Upen Das & Ors., reported in 2020 (5) GLT 605.
4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that, indisputably, the petitioners have been working as Master Roll/Casual Workers in the aforesaid clubs, societies and NGOs since the year 2006– 2007 and, therefore, they are eligible for at least the minimum pay scale in terms of the decision in Shri Upen Das (supra).
5. The learned counsel further submits that similarly situated persons have already approached this Hon’ble Court by filing a writ petition, i.e., WP(C) 4193/2025, wherein a Coordinate Bench of this Court, by the order dated 30.07.2025, directed that the petitioners therein be granted the benefit of the minimum pay scale in terms of Upen Das (supra).
6. In view of the aforesaid, the learned counsel submits that the present petitioners, being similarly situated, should also be granted the same benefits in terms of the order dated 30.07.2025.
7. The learned Standing Counsel for the BTC has fairly submitted that the case of the petitioners is also covered by the aforesaid decision dated 30.07.2025.
8. In view of the aforesaid submissions, this Court directs that the petitioners shall be granted the benefit of minimum pay scale in terms of the decision rendered in Upen Das (supra), after the necessary verification, as may be required by the Forest Department.
9. After such verification, the necessary payment shall be made to the petitioners as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within a period of 3 (three) months from the date of passing of this order. The whole exercise(s) shall be completed within the aforesaid period.
10. In view of the above direction, the instant writ petition stands disposed of.
JUDGE Comparing Assistant