Judgment

RAY, C. J. :- This is an appeal by special leave from the judgment dated 21 August, 1972 of the Delhi High Court Reported in (1973) 1 Service Law Report 54.

2. The appellants challenged the notification dated 15 May, 1971 determining the respondents K. S. Sidhu, O.N. Vohra and J. D. Jain to be senior to the appellant in the Delhi Higher Judicial Service.

3. The appellant and the respondents were recruited to the Delhi Higher Judicial Service in accordance with the recognisation of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service Rules hereinafter referred to as the Delhi Rules.

4. The respondent Sidhu was appointed as a Subordinate Judge on 27 October, 1948 in the former Pepsu State. The respondents Vohra and Jain and the appellant were selected and appointed as Subordinate Judges in the Provincial Civil Service (Judicial Branch) in the Punjab State on the result of the competitive examination. The respondents Vohra and Jain were appointed as Subordinate Judges on 4 August, 1950 and the appellant was appointed on 7 August, 1950.

5. The respondent Sidhu was appointed as an officiating or temporary Additional District and Sessions Judge on 15 January, 1966 in the State of "Punjab".

6. The respon