JUDGMENT

Mrs. Sujata V. Manohar, J.-Leave granted in S.L.P. (C) No. 17422 of 1995.

Applications for impleadment in C.A.Nos. 124-125/96 are allowed.

2. The respondents in these appeals were, at the material time, in the Reserved Trained Pool of Posts and Telegraphs Department, Government of India. After the bifurcation of the two departments in the year 1988 the respondents continued in the Reserved Trained Pool of their respective departments.

3. The Reserved Trained Pool was set up in October 1980. Under a circular bearing 60/36/80-SPB I dated 30 of October, 1980 issued by the office of the Director General, Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department, a scheme was framed for constitution of a standing pool of trained reserve candidates for Post and RMS offices. The circular set out that in many operative offices the smooth flow of work was hampered by shortage of staff due to absenteeism and other causes. Meeting this shortage with overtime arrangements was not always a satisfactory solution. Hence it was decided that a standing pool of trained reserve candidates (hereinafter referred to as RTPs ) should be formed in each recruiting unit to meet these short-time needs and recurrent needs.