Judgment

M. Jagannadha Rao, J.-In this judgment we shall deal with certain appeals relating to officers of the State of Punjab. We shall also deal with Interlocutory Applications Nos. 10-12/98 filed by the Rail­ways and IAs 4-6 by the Union of India. We shall also deal with cer­tain contempt applications and other Interlocutory applications.

I. C.A. Nos. 316-317/99 :

2. The two appeals C.A. Nos. 316-317/99 have been preferred by the gener­al candidates of Punjab against the judgment of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in CWPs 10756 of 1997 and 10759 of 1997 dated 8.10.1998. The High Court, in the judgment under appeal, followed Jagdish Lal & Ors. v. State of Punjab1 in preference to the judgment in Ajit Singh Januja & Ors. v. State of Punjab2, hereinafter called Ajit Singh No. I. The officers here belong to the Punjab Education Department and the con­test is for the post of Principals governed by the Punjab Education Service (School and Inspection Cadre) (Class II) Rules, 1976.

3. Today, we have delivered judgment in IAs 1 to 3 filed in Ajit Singh by the State of Punjab (C.As. 3792-94 /89). That judgment will be described here as Ajit Singh (II) for convenience.

4. The facts of these two