K V VYAS, METER READER Vs. SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, two in number, employees of the respondent-Board filed this Special Civil Application and prayers have been made for direction to the respondents to absorb them as Clerks instead of Meter readers from the date of their appointment as Meter Readers, with all consequential benefits such as pay, seniority, promotion etc.

(2.) It is not in dispute that the petitioners were taken as apprentice trainees by the Board and after successful completion of their apprentice period, they have been absorbed on the post of Meter Reader. The petitioners No.1 and 2 have undergone training from 3.8.77 to 2.9.78 and 22.3.77 to 23.3.78 respectively. They were given appointment as Meter Readers under the orders dated 19th October 1979 and 27th March 1980 both of them have been appointed as Meter Readers instead of appointing them as Clerks.

(3.) This petition has been filed by the petitioners before this Court on 14th October 1988, i.e. after about nine years from the date of appointment of petitioner No.1 as Meter Reader and eight years from the date of appointment of petitioner No.2 as Meter Reader. This petition has been contested by respondents by filing a reply to the same.