IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.1486 of 2008 CHANDRAWATI KUMARI & ORS . Versus THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS . ----------- 2/ 06/01/2010 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the State. The claim relates to appointment on the post of Secretary, Gram Kutchery. The petitioners hold the qualification of ‘Madhyama’ which has been held to be equivalent to Matriculation by this Court based on certain Government instructions itself of 11.1.1999 and in pursuance of which the respondents have also made necessary statutory amendments in the Rules regulating appointment of Secretaries in Gram Kutcheries with effect from 31.1.2008 in pursuance of a policy decision. If the petitioners had been otherwise selected and have been denied appointment only on account of holding the qualification of ‘Madhyama’, the respondents are naturally required to consider their cases now under their own legislative amendment keeping in mind that statutory amendments, in any event, cannot be given retrospective effect by executive orders. The writ application stands disposed. KC/ ( Navin Sinha, J.)