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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 2949 OF 2018

[@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NOS. 15576 OF 2016] KARSHANBHAI RAMJIBHAI JALADIYA                Appellant (s)

                               VERSUS DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AND ANR.  Respondent(s)

WITH CIVIL APPEAL NO. 2950 OF 2018

[@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NOS. 15678 OF 2016]

J U D G M E N T

KURIAN, J. 1. Leave granted.

2. The appellants are aggrieved since they have not been  granted  reinstatement  in  service  while  their juniors  were  retained  by  the  first  respondent. During the pendency of the litigation, spanning over three  decades,  Sh.  Khimjibhai  Muljibhai  Mahida (appellant in Civil Appeal No. 2950/2018) expired and hence,  the  litigation  is  pursued  by  his  legal representative.

3. When  this  matter  came  up  for  admission  before this  Court,  we  directed  Sh.  H.P.  Raval,  learned senior counsel appearing for the respondents, to get

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instruction  as  to  whether  there  are  any  vacancies available, either as Work Charged Clerk or Carpenter. Today, on instruction, Sh. Raval submits that there is  no  vacancy  available  as  of  now.   It  is  also explained that one junior happened to be retained in service pursuant to the directions issued by the High Court in the facts of that case.  Be that as it may, we find that the workmen had around five years of service and, therefore, compensation awarded to them to the tune of Rs. 1,85,000/- (Rupees One Lakh and Eighty Five Thousand) seems to be on the lower side. Having regard to the entire facts and circumstances of  the  case,  particularly  the  prolonged  litigation pursued by the parties reaching upto this Court, we are of the view that the interest of justice would be met if the compensation is fixed at Rs. 6,50,000/- (Rupees  Six  Lakhs  and  Fifty  Thousand)  each,  in addition  to the  amounts already  paid, in  full and final  settlement  of  the  entire  claims  of  the appellants.   The  appeals are  allowed to  the above extent.

4. We  make  it  clear  that  in  the  case  of Sh.Karshanbhai Ramjibhai Jaladiya (appellant in Civil Appeal  No.  2949/2018),  he  shall  be  entitled  to preferential appointment in case any future vacancy arises, either as Work Charged Clerk or as Carpenter,

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subject to eligibility.

5. We make it clear that this amount shall be paid in  addition  to  the  amount  already  paid  to  the appellants as per the directions of the High Court. The amount shall be paid within a period of six weeks from today.

6. We further make it clear that this Judgment is passed  in  the  peculiar  facts  of  this  case  and, therefore, shall not be treated as a precedent.   

.......................J.               [ KURIAN JOSEPH ]  

.......................J.               [ MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR ]  

New Delhi; MARCH 19, 2018.

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ITEM NO.5               COURT NO.5               SECTION III                S U P R E M E  C O U R T  O F  I N D I A                        RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C)  No(s).  15576/2016 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated  13-04-2016 in LPA No. 2097/2007 13-04-2016 in SCA No. 8684/2000 passed by the High Court Of Gujarat At Ahmedabad) KARSHANBHAI RAMJIBHAI JALADIYA                     Petitioner(s)                                 VERSUS DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AND ANR.        Respondent(s) WITH SLP(C) No. 15678/2016 (III) Date : 19-03-2018 These petitions were called on for hearing today. CORAM :  HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KURIAN JOSEPH          HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR For Petitioner(s) Mrs. Saroj Haresh Raichura, Adv.

Mr. Kalp Raichura, Adv. Mr. Haresh Raichura, Adv.                    

                   For Respondent(s) Mr. H. P. Raval, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Anirudh Sharma, Adv. Mr. Abhaid Parikh, Adv.

                                            UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following                              O R D E R

Leave granted.  The appeals are allowed to the extent indicated in the signed

non-reportable Judgment.   Pending Interlocutory Applications, if any, stand disposed of.

(JAYANT KUMAR ARORA)                              (RENU DIWAN)    COURT MASTER                                ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

(Signed non-reportable Judgment is placed on the file)