JUDGMENT

A.M. Ahmadi, CJI. - Leave granted in S.L.P. (Civil) No. 8726 of 1992.

2. These writ petitions, with a Civil Appeal, a Contempt Petition and a review petition have arisen out of several orders passed by this Court as well as by the High Court of Allahabad, coupled with certain acts and omissions on the part of the State of Uttar Pradesh. The main dispute relates to the seniority and promotion of employees in the clerical cadre of the Food and Civil Supplies Department of the State of Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supply Department consists of 3 wings, viz., Marketing Wing, Supply Wing and Weights and Measures Wing. The head of all the three wings is the Commissioner, Food & Civil Supplies. The channels of promotion in the Marketing Wing and in the Supply Wing from the lower rank to the higher rank are as under :

Marketing Wing Supply Wing

Marketing Inspector Supply Inspector

Accountant/ Head Accountant/Head Clerk Clerk

Senior Clerk Sr. Accounts Clerk

Clerk Clerk

3. Appointment to the post of Marketing Inspectors and Supply Inspectors are made from two sources : (i) by direct recruitment; and (ii) by promotion from the lower