(1.) THE petitioners were appointed as Junior Inspectors of Co-operative Societies under Rule 10(a)(i) of General Rules for Tamilnadu State and Subordinate services. In pursuance to the appointment, 1365 Junior Inspectors were posted in the different departments of the Co-operative department throughout the State of Tamil Nadu. The services of the petitioners were thereafter regularised as Junior Inspector by conducting special qualifying examination.
(2.) THE petitioners having passed all the departmental tests and the qualifying examination, became eligible for promotion to the post of Senior Inspector, which resulted in their names being empanelled for promotion as Senior Inspectors of Co-operative Societies.
(3.) G .O.Ms.No.70, Co-operative, Food and Consumer Protection department, dated 18.3.1996 was issued by the State Government in exercise of power conferred under Rule 48 of General Rules for Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Services, to promote 150 Junior Inspectors as Senior Inspectors by granting relaxation of passing departmental, DOM tests, etc. subject to condition of their passing the required tests within a period of three years from the date of promotion. It was also stipulated that in case of non passing of departmental tests within the stipulated period of three years, the subsequent increments on the post of Senior Inspector of Co-operative Societies, will be stopped, till passing of the departmental tests. The G.O.Ms.No.70, did not provide for fixation of seniority of 150 Senior Inspectors promoted by relaxing the special rules.