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PETITIONER: THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: DEORAO & ANR.

DATE OF JUDGMENT07/12/1995

BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. HANSARIA B.L. (J)

CITATION:  1996 SCC  (7) 216        JT 1995 (9)   617  1995 SCALE  (7)338

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      Delay condoned.      Leave granted.      On  September   4,  1995,   we  issued   the  following directions:      "It is  stated by  Sh. K. Madhava Reddy,      learned senior counsel appearing for the      State that  the Government  had not duly      approved the recommendations made by the      Committee.   But   with   modifications,      certain procedure  has  been  prescribed      for  absorption   of   such   of   those      candidates    like    the    respondents      appointed in  the Forest  Department. It      is   also    stated   that   those   two      respondents having  been found  eligible      according to  the Scheme, they have been      absorbed. It  is brought  to our  notice      that  the   persons   claiming   similar      reliefs have  filed the petitions in the      Tribunal   and    also   the    contempt      proceedings against  the State  for non-      implementation. In  that situation,  the      appropriate course  would  be  that  the      State should  file an  affidavit by  the      competent Officer  enclosing the  Scheme      evolved for workmen. Then we would be in      a position  to consider  the  cases  and      pass  appropriate  orders.  Mr.  Madhave      Reddy seeks  for  and  is  granted  four      weeks time  for filing the affidavit. It      would be  open to  the counsel appearing      in the  Tribunal to  bring this order to      the  notice  of  the  Tribunal  and  the      Tribunal  would  do  the  needful.  List

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    after four weeks." Pursuant thereto,  the  appellant  have  framed  Scheme  for absorption of  all these  temporary  candidates  working  as Assistant Plantation  Officers, Ropvan  Kotwals and  clerks. Under the  above scheme,  we are  informed that 62 Assistant Plantation Officers  and 9  Clerks who  were qualified under the Scheme,  have already  been absorbed.  Even  out  of  73 Ropvan Kotwals,  31 candidates  have already  been absorbed. What remains  are only  42 candidates. It is seen that under the Scheme the criteria prescribed are as under:-      "13. It  is submitted that the following      eligibility      criteria      regarding      reappointment of  the terminated  Ropvan      Kotwals has  been  applied  in  deciding      their eligibility/non-eligibility:      a)    The  names of  the candidates  for      the post  of  Ropvan  Kotwal  must  come      through the Government approved agencies      like the Employment Exchange, the Social      Welfare officer, etc.      b)    The  candidate  for  the  post  of      Ropvan Kotwal  must fulfil the following      conditions at the time of recruitment;      i)    He  must have  passed VII Standard      Examination.      ii)   He  must not  be over  28 years of      age (Relaxation of 5 years is granted in      case of backward class candidate).      iii)   Hi   must  meet   the   following      physical standards;      1. Height  : Minimum 163 cm.      2. Chest   : Minimum 79 cm.                   Inflated minimum 84 cm.      3. Minimum inflation         of Chest : 5 cm." We cannot  find fault  with the  scheme  as  framed  by  the appellant. But  however, the  facts remain  that  42  Ropvan Kotwals had already put in about eight years of service from the initial  dates of  appointment.  It  is  stated  by  Mr. Deshpande, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents that they passed the 8th standard examination prescribed. It would appear that they were over aged at the date of initial appointment and  some of  them did not prescribe the minimum Height of  163 cms.  and expansion  of Chest  at 79  cms. as prescribed under  the Scheme.  We cannot  straightaway  give directions for absorption of them. We direct the appropriate officer to  examine them,  conduct physical  examination  of them and  if they  are  marginally  short  of,  the  minimum prescribed under the Scheme, their cases would be considered and absorbed.  When we  asked the  counsel for the State, on instructions, it  is stated  by Mr.  S.M. Jadhav  that as at present there are no vacancies existing. Shri S.V. Deshpande stated that there were advertisements made calling for fresh recruitment but  may be  in some  other scheme.  In whatever scheme that  may be  in operation,  if they  are eligible to that scheme, the case of the left over candidates also would be considered  and appropriate  orders may  be made.  It  is denied by  the counsel  for  the  State.  If  there  are  no advertisements made  as  contended  for,  as  and  when  the vacancies  arise,   their  cases  would  be  considered  and absorbed. They  will not  be entitled  to backwages from the date of  the protection  given by the Tribunal till the date of absorption.  As and  when there is any work to be done on daily  basis,   they  would  be  engaged  as  per  rules  or instructions. If  they become  over  aged  at  the  time  of

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recruitment, necessary age relaxation also be given. All the proceedings pending in the Tribunal stand closed.      The appeal is accordingly disposed of. No costs.