M R RAMAKRISHNAN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners in this case, hundred in number, are permanent officials of the grade of Assistants in the Central Secretariat Service. Petitioner I and petitioners 6 to 100 were directly recruited as Assistants. Petitioners 2 to 5 were not directly recruited as Assistants but are admittedly holding high positions in the seniority list of permanent Assistants.

(2.) Through a petition filed by them on August 27, 1970 the petitioners challenged the validity of sub-rule (2) of rule 2 of the Central Secretariat Service (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 1970 to the extent it amended the Fourth Schedule to the Central Secretariat Service Rules, 1962 (hereinafter referred to as "the 1962 Rules".

(3.) On September 28, 1970 ten other Assistants of the Central Secretariat Service, who wanted to oppose the writ-petition and claimed that their interests would be adversely affected in the event of the above-mentioned sub-rule being declared ultra-vires, were impleaded as respondents 3 to 12. The Union of India and the Union Public Service Commission were already parties to the case, as respondents 1 and 2.