The State of Tripura and ors. .......Respondent(s) WP(C) NO.655 OF 2023 Sri Prakash Paul ......Petitioner(s) Versus The State of Tripura and ors. .......Respondent(s) For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Somik Deb, Sr. Advocate. Ms. R. Chakraborty, Advocate. For the Respondent(s) : Mr. P. Roy Barman, Sr. Advocate. Mr. Kohinoor N. Bhattacharjee, G.A. Mr. R. Datta, Advocate. Mr. K. Nath, Advocate. Date of hearing and delivery of Judgment & Order : 14.08.2024. Whether fit for reporting : YES. HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T. AMARNATH GOUD J U D G M E N T & O R D E R(ORAL) Both the writ petitions are heard and taken up together for disposal since common questions of law and facts are involved. Page 2 of 14 2. The brief facts of WP(C) No.654 of 2023 if that for filling up four posts of Junior Scientist, the respondentTripura State Pollution Board (in short „TSPSB‟) issued an advertisement, maintaining the same qualifications, as stipulated in the Notification dated 06.05.2011. Being allured by the said advertisement, the petitioner applied for the said post. Thereafter, the petitioner was called in to appear before the Selection Committee, for facing the interview for appointment to the said post. Accordingly, the Member Secretary TSPCB issued a Memorandum dated 28.11.2012, thereby offering an appointment, to the petitioner, to the post of Junior Scientist (GroupB) on purely temporary basis. The merit list that was prepared for selection to the said post of Junior Scientist, TSPCB was also furnished to the petitioner under RTI Act, wherefrom it transpires that the petitioner was placed at Serial No.1 of the said merit list. The Member Secretary, TSPCB issued a Memorandum dated 27.12.2022, thereby publishing a Draft Seniority List of Junior Scientists of the TSPCB, whereby, the petitioner was placed at Serial No.2, and the private respondent was placed at serial no.1. Feeling aggrieved by his placement at Serial No.2 of the Draft Seniority List, as was noted in the memorandum dated 27.12.2022, despite his placement at Serial No.1 in the merit list, the petitioner submitted a detailed representation dated 24.01.2023, inter alia referring to the Page 3 of 14 attendant facts and circumstances and various decisions holding the field. Without paying any heed to the issues raised by the petitioner, by the above representation dated 24.01.2023, and without recording any reason therefore, the Member Secretary, TSPCB issued a Memorandum dated 19.09.2023, thereby publishing the Final Seniority List of Junior Scientist of TSPCB, thereby affirming the seniority position, as obtaining on 27.12.2022, wherein, the petitioner was placed at Serial No.2. But the private respondent was placed at Serial No.1 thereof. Hence, this writ petition. 3. The brief fact of WP(C) No.655 of 2023 is that for filling up of six posts of Junior Environmental Engineer, the respondentTSPCB issued an advertisement, maintaining the same qualifications, as stipulated in the Notification dated 06.05.2011. Being allured by the said advertisement, the petitioner had applied for the said post. Thereafter, the petitioner was called in, to appear before the Selection Committee, for facing the interview for such appointment to the said post. He emerged out successful. Accordingly, the Member Secretary, TSPCB issued a Memorandum dated 28.11.2012, thereby offering an appointment to the petitioner, to the post of Junior Environmental Engineer (GroupB), on purely temporary basis. The merit list that was prepared for selection to the said post of Junior Environmental Engineer, TSPCB Page 4 of 14 was also furnished to the petitioner, wherefrom it transpires that the petitioner was placed at Serial No.1 of the said Merit List. The Member, Secretary,