(1.) THE 73 petitioners, who are working as Assistant Section Officers, have filed O.A. No. 4965 of 1998 before the Tribunal seeking to challenge the order passed by the respondent in G.O. Ms. No.126, P & AR Department dated 29.05.1998 and for consequential direction to modify the said order so as to grant promotion to the applicants to the post of Assistant Section officers, with effect from 07.10.1998 on par with their juniors S. Kalaiselvan and Sivasubramanian with all consequential benefits. On notice from the Tribunal, the respondent filed a reply affidavit dated 20.08.1998 justifying the issuance of the impugned order. It was stated by the respondent that the Government has considered the entire issue and decided to take a lasting and equitable solution to the longstanding issue. In view of the abolition of the Tribunal, the matter stood transferred to this Court and re-numbered as O.A. No. 5083 of 2006.
(2.) IN Para No,7 and 8 of the reply affidavit of the respondent, it has been averred as follows:-