CUTTACK, India, April 14 -- Orissa High Court issued the following order on March 12:

1. This matter is taken up through hybrid mode.

2. Pursuant to order dtd.23.02.2026, learned Sr. Counsel appearing for the Petitioners taking this Court to Annexure-4, contended that both the Petitioners were appointed as VAW with their date of joining as 06.07.1988 in the cadre of VAW.

3. Heard Mr. U.K. Samal, learned Sr. Counsel appearing for the Petitioner along with Mr. M.R. Mohapatra, learned counsel and Mr. S.P. Das, learned Addl. Standing Counsel appearing for the Opp. Parties.

4. Since the issue involved in both the writ petitions is identical, both the matters were heard analogously and disposed of by the present common order.

5. Both the writ petitions have been filed inter alia challenging the rejection of the Petitioners' claim to get the promotion to the rank of Agriculture Overseer from the date one Bhramarbar Sethi was so promoted with extension of the benefit w.e.f.31.05.2001.

6. It is contended that that both the Petitioners were initially engaged as Field Man Demonstrators (FMDs) in the Department of Agriculture. However, after re-organization of existing Agricultural Extension Set up in the State as per the recommendation made by the World Bank, both VLW and Field Man Demonstrator, were treated as having belong to one cadre in the rank of Village Agriculture Worker (VAW) vide resolution dtd.06.01.1977 under Annexure-1.

6.1. It is however contended that in terms of the resolution issued under Annexure-1, Such Field Man Demonstrator and Village Level Worker (VLW) were required to undergo the upgradation training for their encadrement in the cadre of Village Agriculture Worker (VAW). It is contended that both the Petitioners acquired the upgradation training, which is a requirement for being encadred in the rank of VAW in the year 1983 and the aforesaid Bhramarbar Sethi in the year 1990.

6.2. It is further contended that after completion of such upgradation training, both the Petitioners were appointed in the rank of VAW, where they joined on 06.07.1988. Similarly, after completion of the upgradation training by Bhramarbar Sethi on 31.12.1990, he was brought over to the cadre of VAW w.e.f.01.01.1991.

6.3. It is contended that even though Petitioners were appointed in the cadre of VAW with their date of joining as 06.08.1987 and that of Bhramarbar sethi as 01.01.1991, but when the said Bhramarbar Sethi was given the benefit of promotion to the rank of Agriculture Overseer w.e.f.31.05.2011 ignoring the claim of the Petitioners, who are admittedly senior to Bhramarbar Sethi in the cadre of VAW, Petitioners raised their grievance and thereafter approached the State Administrative Tribunal by filing O.A. Nos. 3915 (C) of 2011 and 3916(C) of 2014.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=zDLovBVSUw02H8XukOjXfMZkvV58VSrY7fb9bdFkhBl7S%2BIhfvES1IAeJJOaN0Jp&caseno=WP(C)/16167/2022&cCode=1&cino=ODHC010418172022&state_code=11&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.