WP(C) 6325/2010 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE HRISHIKESH ROY The petitioner, who served as a surveillance worker under the Joint Director of Health Services, Cachar in 1996 and who has been discontinued from service since last about 14 years is before this Court in the context of a fresh recruitment process, initiated by the respondent No. 4, for considering direct appointment to the posts of surveillance workers. The petitioner claims that he has already responded to the advertisement and a direction be issued to consider his past s ervice, when candidates are considered. Ms. A. Verma, learned standing counsel for the Health Department points out that the service of the petitioner was discontinued in the year 1996 and there canno t be any preferential right of appointment in the process of direct recruitment. However, she submits that subject to petitioner being eligible for direct recru itment, his candidature will surely be considered on merit. In view of the above, I see no basis to direct the respondents to give any prefe rential consideration to the candidature of the petitioner, only because he serv ed for a little while as a surveillance worker. However, if the petitioner has a pplied and is eligible, his candidature may be considered on merit along with ot her applicants for direct recruitment. With the aforesaid direction, this petition is disposed of.