Roshnichand Tourangbam and 4 Ors v. State of Manipur and 2 Ors

ORDER

27.04.2026

[1]

Present Mr. HS Paonam, learned sr. counsel assisted by Mr. N. Bipin, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr. H. Debendra, learned Dy. AG assisted by Ms. Sanya Shangari, learned counsel on behalf of the State respondents. [2]

The petitioners who are working as Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) in the Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Manipur are aggrieved by the draft Recruitment Rules for the 5(five) posts of Deputy Director in the Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Manipur vide notice dated 23.02.2026 issued by Director (Social Welfare), Manipur. By the notice dated 23.02.2026, the department invited all stakeholders to furnish comments/ views/ modification/ feedback to the draft amendment of Recruitment Rules for the post of Deputy Directors within 30 days from the date of notice. The Association of the petitioners and employees i.e. All Manipur ICDS Employees Union submitted a detailed representation dated 23.03.2026 to the Director, Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Manipur about the proposed amendment of Recruitment Rules for the post of Deputy Directors, Social Welfare Department, Manipur. The apprehension of the petitioners is that persons with similarly situated and similar pay will not be eligible for promotion to the post of Deputy Directors in Social OINAM THOIB A MEITEI Digitally signed by OINAM THOIBA MEITEI Date: 2026.04.28 +05'30'

Welfare Department, in spite of rendering services for a substantial long period. By the present writ petition, the petitioner prays for quashing the notice dated

23.03.2026 issued by Director (Social Welfare), Manipur for publishing draft amendment Recruitment Rules for the post of Deputy Directors of Social Welfare Department, Manipur and also for consideration of the representation dated

23.03.2026 before finalizing the draft Recruitment Rules. The prayer of the petitioners is reproduced below:

(i) issue rule nisi and call for the records,

(ii) issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other an appropriate writ for quashing and setting aside the impugned notification No. 1/239/2021-D(SW)R/R dated 23-02-2026 issued by the Director, Social Welfare Department, Manipur enclosing the impugned draft amendment Recruitment Rules for the post of Deputy Directors of Social Welfare Department as unreasonable and declare the same as null and void,

(iii) issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order or direction to respondents concerned for reconsidering finalization of the draft Recruitment Rules by taking into consideration of the views/comments and objection as put forward in the form of representation by the petitioner's Apex Union on 23-03-2026 for the ends of justice and

(iv) pass such further order(s) or direction(s) which this Hon'ble Court deem fit and proper to secure the ends of justice [3]

On the other hand, Mr. H. Debendra, learned Dy. AG submits that the petitioners have no locus for filing the present writ petition as they are CDPO and feeder posts for promotion to the post of Deputy Director are Programme Officer and other equivalent post. It is pointed out that Programme Officer is the promotional post for the CDPO as such, the petitioners have no locus to challenge the draft amendment of Recruitment Rules for the appointment of Deputy Directors. It is also stated that the writ petition is premature as the State has not published the final amendment of Recruitment Rules for promotion to the post of Deputy Directors in the Social Welfare Department, Manipur.

[4]

At this stage, Mr. HS Paonam, learned sr. counsel for the petitioners, on instructions, submits that the petitioners are not pressing the 'prayer no. (ii)' with regard to the quashing of the draft amendment Recruitment Rules for the post of Deputy Directors of Social Welfare Department, Manipur and petitioners are only pursuing the 'prayer no. (iii)' regarding consideration of their detailed representation dated 23.03.2026 to the draft amendment Recruitment Rules published by the Social Welfare Department, Manipur. [5]

This Court has perused the materials on record and submissions made at the bar. This Court is of the view that the writ petition may be disposed of at this stage by directing the State respondents to consider the detailed representation dated 23.03.2026 submitted by the petitioners Association before finalizing amendment of Recruitment Rules for the 5(five) posts of Deputy Director in the Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Manipur. [6]

It is made clear that this Court does not express any opinion on the merit of the case and keep open the contentions raised by the parties before this Court for consideration by appropriate forum. [7]

With these observations, the present WP(C) No. 284 of 2026 is disposed of. [8]

The MC(WP(C) No. 306 of 2026 is also closed, accordingly.

JUDGE

Thoiba

Item no. 7 & 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL WP(C) No. 284 of 2026 with MC(WP(C)) No. 306 of 2026 Roshnichand Tourangbam and 4 Ors. …. Petitioners - Versus – State of Manipur and 2 Ors. …. Respondents B E F O R E HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A. GUNESHWAR SHARMA