JUDGMENT

M. Jagannadha Rao, J.-Leave granted.

2. These appeals arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 24115-24116 of 1996 (hereinafter called the main batch) are directed against the judgment of the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal dated 20.11.1996 in Application No. 3756 of 1996 and 4849 of 1996. The Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (C) No. 112818 of 2000 is directed against an interlocutory order dated 11.4.2000 in RP 240/2000 filed by the State of Karnataka staying an earlier order passed by the Karnataka High Court in W.P. 45205 to 45210 of 1999 on 11.1.2000, directing disposal of a representation to be filed by the general candidates seeking implementation of the recent judgment of this Court in Ajit Singh II v. State of Punjab1. That is how these cases have come before us.

3. The facts in the main batch of Civil appeals are as follows :

In a group of OAs filed before the Tribunal, the basic contention raised by the applicants (appellants in this Court) who were general candidates was that when they and the reserved candidates were appointed at level 1 and the Junior reserved candidates got promoted earlier at roster points to level 2 and again by way of roster points to level 3, and when th