S MURUGABOOPATHY Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner who was in the Pondichery Judicial Service, challenged the Notification No.127/1999, dated 28.10.1999 on the file of the second respondent and the Notification bearing G.O.Ms.No.29/99-Law, dated 28.10.1999 on the file of the third respondent and the Amendment Notification bearing G.O.Ms.No.8/2002-Law (1), dated 10.4.2002 on the file of the third respondent, with a further prayer to reinstate him in service and to grant him promotion to the post of District Judge with effect from the date his junior was so promoted.

(2.) AS the case can be disposed of on a short point, it is not necessary to discuss all the facts except the relevant one.

(3.) LEARNED counsel appearing on behalf of the State of Pondicherry, while opposing the contentions, relied on Rule 14 of the Pondicherry Judicial Service (Cadre and Recruitment) Rules, 1996, which reads as follows: