U. GOPALAN AND ORS. Vs. THE ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AS all the above writ petitions raise practically the same issues, they are disposed of together.

(2.) ALL the petitioners bad joined the office of the Accountant -General, Madras as Upper Division Clerks. Later they had passed the Subordinate Account Service examination after undergoing the requisite training in public works division. Then they were promoted and posted as S. A. S. Accountants.

(3.) IT has been contended by the petitioners. (1) that though the said office order purports to be a posting order, in effect and in substance it amounts to an order of reduction in rank; and (2) that the said office order is illegal as it is benefit of legal authority and it also amounts to a colourable exercise of power. The question is how far the petitioners have substantiated the said contentions.