I S CHAHAL Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgment shall dispose of Civil Writ Petition Nos. 4636 and 4692 of 1984 and Civil Writ Petition No. 8241 of 1987. The petitioners in all these petitions were directly appointed to the posts of Assistant Excise and Taxation Officers (for short the 'A.E.T.Os'.) in the State of Punjab. The main dispute is with regard to their seniority vis-a-vis the promotees. These petitions involve interpretation of the service rules which are common to all of them.

(2.) The petitioners in Civil Writ Petition No. 8241 of 1987 appeared in a competitive examination held by the Punjab Public Service Commission (for short the 'Commission") in the year 1973 for recruitment to the Punjab Civil Service (Executive Branch) and other, Allied Services. They qualified the written examination. After they were interviewed their final result was declared in the year 1974. They were offered appointments as A.E.T.0s.

(3.) The petitioners in Civil Writ Petition Nos. 4636 and 4692 of 1984 appeared in similar competitive examination held by the Commission in the year 1974. After qualifying the written examination they appeared for interview. Their final result was declared in April, 1975. They were offered appointments as A.E.T.Os, and they joined service as such in November, 1975. Petitioner No. 2 in Civil Writ Petition No. 4692 of 1984 has since died. His counsel, therefore, stated at the bar that his claim contained in the petition has consequently become infructuous and need not be adjudicated upon. Petitioner Nos. 4 and 5 were Ex-military personnel. They were, therefore, given benefit of their Army service and their deemed date of appointment was fixed as 10th June, 1974.