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PETITIONER: STATE OF BIHAR & ORS.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: BIHAR RAJYA SAHKARITA PRABANDHAK SEVA SANGH, PATNA, & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       20/08/1998

BENCH: K. VENKATASWAMI, S. RAJENDRA BABU

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                       J U D G M E N T K. Venkataswami, J.      Aggrieved by  the direction  given by the High Court in CWJC No.  2312 of  1991 directing  the State  Government  to absorb Co-operative Managers against the equivalent posts in any other  departments of  the State  Government in terms of the State Government’s decision dated 6.9.86, this appeal by special leave has been preferred.      This  court,   after  hearing  learned  senior  counsel appearing for  the appellants for some time, passed an order on 4.3.98  for the  consideration of  the Government  in the light of  the human  problem that  arose out of the judgment under appeal, which reads as follows :-           "I.A. NO.  5  for intervention      is allowed.           We have heard Mr. S.B. Sanyal,      learned  senior   counsel  for  the      appellants, for some time.           Having regard to the fact that      the respondents in whose favour the      judgment  under   appeal  has  been      given directing  the absorption  of      persons appointed  in the year 1973      and also  having regard to the fact      that   some    persons    similarly      situated   having   been   absorbed      pursuant to  orders  of  Court,  we      think  that   the  Government   can      consider  a   via  media   in   the      following lines :-           (1) Those  who are  in  actual      service as  paid Managers  will  be      continued till they are absorbed in      accordance with  law  as  and  when      vacancies    arise    in    various      Government Departments and wherever      necessary relaxing  the age  to the      extent possible.  Wherever the  age      relaxation  is  not  possible,  for      example, if  the candidate is above

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    50, such candidates will be allowed      to continue  as Paid  Managers till      they    reach     the    age     of      superannuation on  the  same  terms      and conditions  on which  they  are      now continuing.           (2) Those  who appeared in the      examination but  could not  succeed      or could  not  get  selected,  they      will  also  be  continued  as  Paid      Managers  on  the  same  terms  and      conditions and  such candidates can      also be  permitted to  sit for  the      subsequent examinations.           The Statement  Government will      also produce the recommendation, in      particular, the  list of names sent      for    absorption     in    various      departments which  is referred t in      the earlier Division Bench judgment      in paragraph 38.           To consider the suggestion and      comply with  the direction, learned      counsel  wants  some  time  to  get      instructions.           List  on  22.4.1998  as  part-      heard."      Mr. Sanyal,  learned senior  counsel appearing  for the appellants, informed  the Court  on the next date of hearing that the  Government have  accepted the suggestions given by this Court  in its order dated 4.3.98 and accepting the said suggestions, an  additional  affidavit  was  also  filed  on 17.4.98. In  the  additional  affidavit,  it  is  stated  as follows :-      "1. That  I am   working  as Deputy      Registrar in  the Department of Co-      operative,  Government   f   Bihar,      Patna, and  I am  dealing the above      mentioned  case   in  my   official      capacity and  as  such  I  am  well      acquainted  with   the  facts   and      circumstances of  the case.  I have      been authorised  by the  Secretary,      Department     of     Co-operative,      Government of  Bihar, to  swear  an      affidavit  on behalf of the State.      2. That  this affidavit is filed in      compliance  with  the  Order  dated      4.3.1998, the  Hon’ble Supreme Curt      desiring via  media to  resolve the      differences.      3. That  irrespective of the change      in   policy   decision   with   the      Government dated  17.7.1991 as  per      letter of  the Deputy  Secretary to      the Government, Deptt. of Personnel      and Administrative  Reforms, to the      Secretary, Co-operative  Department      (page - 86 f the S.L.P. paper book)      the paid  managers of  the  Society      being  not   a  government  servant      their   direct    appointment    as      Government employees  by  excluding      the eligible candidates of the said      appointment,  is  not  possible  in

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    view of  Article s 14 and 16 of the      Constitution  and  statutory  rules      and   regulations    relating    to      recruitment   in   the   Government      employment.      4. That  this Hon’ble  Curt  taking      humane approach desired :      a)  the   paid  managers   will  be      continued till  their absorption in      accordance with  the  law  as  wans      when vacancies  arise in    various      Government departments  by relaxing      the age to the extent possible.      b) wherever  the age  relaxation is      not possible  they will continue as      paid  managers   till  the  age  of      superannuation on  same  terms  and      conditions on  which they  are  now      continuing.      c) the  paid managers  who filed to      pass the examination of recruitment      as required  to be  held by  Public      Service  Commission  they  will  be      given  opportunity   to   sit   for      subsequent  examination   and  till      they pass the examination they will      continue as  paid managers  on same      terms and conditions.      5. That  the State  Government  has      considered  the   desire  of   this      Hon’ble   Court’s    order    dated      4.3.1998  and   is   agreeable   to      resolve the dispute as suggested by      the Court.      6. That  the   State Government  is      prepared  to   relax  the  age  for      appearing  in  General  Competitive      Examination  conducted   by   Bihar      Public   Service   Commission   for      filling up  the vacancies of Class-      III post upto the age of 50 years.      7. They will be able to avail three      such  examination   to  make   them      eligible for  appointment  to  make      them eligible for appointment. This      decision has  been communicated  by      the  Personnel  and  Administrative      Reforms Department who are incharge      of   the    recruitment   to    the      Government  employment   to   Bihar      Public Service Commission by letter      no. 3918  dated 11.4.1998. That the      letter no.  3918 dated 11.4.1998 is      annexed  herewith   and  marked  as      Annexure -A to this Affidavit.      8. That  the paid  managers, who do      not  qualify   for  recruitment  in      Government Employment in accordance      with  law  their  service  as  paid      managers,  will  continue  on  same      terms  and  conditions  as  is  now      prevailing, the  same will  be  the      fate  of   the  paid  managers  who      failed  in  all  three  examination      referred above.

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    9. That the recommendation referred      to  in  the  paragraph  38  of  the      Division Bench Judgment finds place      at page  83  of  the  S.L.P.  paper      book. The  alleged decision  of the      Chief Minister  referred to in this      letter dated  6.9.1986 (page  83 of      the  S.L.P.   paper  book)   is  in      reality  in   a   negotiation   and      discussion with  the union  of  the      paid    managers,    and    English      translation  of   the  Minutes   of      Discussion is  annexed herewith and      marked  as   Annexure  -B  to  this      Affidavit.      10.  That  the  list  of  the  paid      managers  which  was  forwarded  on      6.9.1986       for       adjustment      (recruitment) as  per rules  of the      Government are annexed herewith and      marked  as   Annexure  -C  to  this      Affidavit.      11. That in short the Government is      agreeable to  give  effect  to  the      suggestion contained  in the  order      dated  4.3.1998   passed  by   this      Hon’ble Court."      Though  the   learned     counsel  appearing   for  the respondents,  in  particular  Mr.  Rakesh  Dwivedi,  learned Senior Advocate,  after some arguments, substantially agreed with the  concession shown  by the  State Government  in the additional affidavit,  pointed out that the respondents, who have been  functioning  as  Paid  Managers  of  various  Co- operative Societies  from 1974  onwards, cannot  be asked to sit for  examination in  competition with young new entrants for  the   purpose  of   absorption.  In  other  words,  the respondents having  regard to  their age  and  other  family problems, may  not be  in a  position to  compete  with  the youngesters/new entrants.  Therefore, it  was  submitted  on behalf of  the respondents  that they  must be  treated as a separate category and if at all, a separate examination must be  held  for  them  top  find  out  their  suitability  for absorption.      Mr. Sanyal,  learned senior counsel for the appellants, submitted  that  any  such  further  concession  should  not prejudice the  interest of new entrants as otherwise it will amount  to   violation  of   Articles  14   and  16  of  the Constitution.      The submissions  made on  behalf of  the appellants and respondents deserve consideration, but some solution must be found out.      On the  peculiar facts  of this  case, were  are of the view that  the following  addition to  the acceptance of the State Government  as expressed  in  the  additional  counter affidavit filed on 17.4.98 would meet the ends of justice.      A reasonable number of posts available - including even there in the process of recruitment - be set apart for being filled  up   by  the  Respondents.  A  separate  recruitment test/examination be  held. They  cannot be asked to take the same  examination   prescribed  for   fresh  candidates  for entering the  Government service. The question paper (s) for the eligible respondents must be so prepared bearing in mind the conditions of the respondents such as age, past service, etc.  After   taking  such  examination  (s),  the  eligible respondents may be absorbed subject to reasonable conditions

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as to their past service, seniority and pension.      In the  result, we dispose of this appeal accepting the additional  affidavit  filed  by  the  appellants  with  the addition or  modification as  mentioned above.  We hope that the appellants  would take steps as early as possible in the light of this Judgment to absorb the respondents. No costs.