WP(C) 922/2009 BEFORE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE B.P. KATAKEY Heard Ms. S.B. Choudhury, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. R. Adhikari, learned State Counsel appearing for the respondent Nos.1, 3 to 11 and the learne d Standing Counsel, Finance Department appearing for the respondent Nos.2 and 12 . As agreed to by the learned counsel for the parties, the writ petition is taken up for disposal at the order stage itself. The petitioners, four in numbers, in the present petition have claimed that thou gh they were engaged as casual workers in various forest beats under Hailakandi Forest Division, prior to 1st April, 1993, they have not been given the enhanced wages fixed for the casual workers with effect from 1st September, 2008, as has been reflected in the communication dated 18th October, 2008 issued by the Join t Secretary, Government of Assam, Environment and Forest Department to the Princ ipal Chief Conservator of Forests, Assam. The claim of the petitioners that though they were engaged prior to 1st April, 1 993 and are still working as casual workers in their respective beats, the same has been denied by the Divisional Forest Officer, Hailakandi Division in the aff idavit dated 20th August, 2009. According to the Divisional Forest Officer, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests vide communication dated 22nd October, 2 008 directed payment of the revised wages of Rs.2500/- (Twenty Five Hundred) per month to those casual workers, whose names appear in the list approved and anne xed to the said communication and as the names of the petitioners do not appear in the said list, they are not entitled to the amount, as claimed. In the rejoinder affidavit filed by the petitioners, such stand taken by the Div isional Forest Officer in the affidavit-in-opposition has been denied. The peti tioners claim that they were engaged prior to 1st April, 1993 and still working as casual workers. In support of such claim, the petitioners have annexed the c ertificates issued by forest officials. It is an admitted position of fact that vide communication dated 18th October, 2 008, the Joint Secretary to the Government of Assam, Environment and Forest Depa rtment informed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Assam about the Gove rnment’s decision relating to the enhancement of monthly wages of the casual wor kers to Rs.2500/-. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, on 22nd October, 2008 has directed the Chief Conservators of Forests for payment of the wages in the revised fixed pay with effect from 1st September, 2008, enclosing therewith a list of casual workers, where the names of the petitioners’ do not appear. T he petitioners, however, in the affidavit-in-reply have enclosed 4 (four) certif icates issued by the forest officials certifying that they are still working. A ccording to the petitioners, they were engaged prior to 1st April, 1993. In view of such stand taken by the petitioners as well as by the Divisional Fore st Officer in the affidavit-in-opposition, the authority is required to determin e the fact relating to the claim of the petitioners that they were engaged prior to 1st April, 1993 and are still working as casual workers, before issuance of a direction for payment of the wages, as fixed by the Government of Assam and re flected in the communication dated 18th October, 2008. In view of the above, the present writ petition is disposed of with the directio n to the Conservator of Forests, Southern Assam Circle, the respondent No.6, to make an enquiry as to the dates of engagement of the petitioners, if any, and if upon such enquiry, it is found that the petitioners were in fact engaged prior to 1st April, 1993 and they are still working as casual workers, the benefit of the Government’s decision for enhancement of the monthly wages, as reflected in the communication dated 18th October, 2008 be given. The said exercise is direc ted to be completed within a period of 2 (two) months from the date of productio n of the certified copy of this order passed today alongwith the writ petition a nd affidavits filed and its annexures appended thereto by the petitioners before the Conservators of Forests, Southern Assam Circle. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. No cost. A copy of this order be furnished to Mr. Adhikari, learned State Counsel.