Judgment

P. K. GOSWAMI, J. - This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment of the Full Bench of the High Court of Delhi whereby the writ petition of the first twelve respondents was partly allowed.

2. The appellant, who joined service in the cadre of Assistant Engineers in the Central Engineering Service, Class II (Gazetted), was respondent No. 51 in the High Court. Other respondents in the High Court in similar position as that of the appellant have been impleaded here as respondents (16 to 110) and they are supporting the appellant through their counsel Mr. S. T. Desai. For the sake of convenience the appellant and the respondents 16 to 110 will be described herein below as direct recruits in the Class II Service. The Union of India, Engineer-in-Chief, C. P. W. D., and the Union Public Service Commission are respectively respondent Nos. 13, 14 and 15 and are represented by Mr. Gobind Das.

3. The respondents 1 to 12 (hereinafter to be referred to as the respondents) preferred an application in the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution on 16th February, 1970, praying for certain reliefs which the High Court has summarised under the following four heads:

(1) T