JUDGMENT

Raju, J.-The appellant, who joined the Bihar Statistical Service in a Class-II gazetted post on 22-8-1968, was promoted to Class-I post in July, 1992 and again in July, 1994 he was given the Senior Section Grade. His name was said to have been recommended on 15-11-1994 for appointment by selection to the I.A.S. by his Parent Department. But since no meeting of the State Committee for short-listing of candidates took place for the years 1994-95 and 1995-96 for officers of the said category, the proposal by his Parent Department did not materialize. On 12.12.1996, it appears that the name of the appellant was again recommended by his Parent Department for being considered for appointment byb selection to the post of I.A.S. The State Scrutiny Committee, whose task is to short-list the names of such candidates received from various Deparetments of the Government other than the State CivilService for further consideration by the Select Committee as per the Regulations, seems to have not favourably considered the claim of the appellant since he was above 54 years as on 1-4-1996, i.e., the relevant cut-off date for consideration of claims for the year 1996-97. Apparently, on comi