(1.) These six intra-Court appeals are directed against the common judgment and order dtd. 24/11/2016, passed by the learned Single Judge in (i) WP (C) 417 (AP)/2016 (Lingum Taki & 2 Ors. Vs. The State of A.P. & 3 Others, (ii) WP (C) 520 (AP)/2016 (Kanpong Wangphop & 24 Ors. Vs. The State of A.P. & Others, and (iii) WP(C) 606 (AP)/2016, (Hibu Raju & 12 Ors. Vs. The State of A.P. & 4 Others.
(2.) As common issues are involved in all the six appeals, at the instance of the learned Senior Addl. Advocate General, Senior Advocate and Advocate(s) for the parties, these appeals were heard and decided by this common judgment and order.
(3.) The contentious issues in these appeals relate to promotion of Constables to the next higher post of Head Constables in Police Department of Arunachal Pradesh. In order to fill up the vacant posts of Head Constables, the Police Department had initiated the process of promotion in the year 2008 as per the Head Constables of Police (Group-'C' Posts) Recruitment Rules, 1987 (hereinafter referred to as the "Rules of 1987"). As per the Rule, 50% of the posts of Head Constables were to be filled up by way of promotion from amongst the Constables having minimum 3 (three) years of satisfactory service in the grade on the basis of merit which is to be assessed by holding departmental examination and the remaining 50% by promotion from amongst the Constables having minimum 5 (five) years of satisfactory service in the grade on the basis of seniority-cum-merit.