Judgment

RANGANATHAN, J.

INTRODUCTION

1. The controversies arising in this batch of cases are by way of sequel to three earlier decisions of this court in regard to the constitution of the Indian Forest Service viz. Kraipak v. Union of India AIR 1970 SC 150, Parvez Qadir v. Union of India 1975-2 SCR 432 and Union of India v. Chothia (1978) 3 SCR 652,. A little historical background is, therefore, necessary to appreciate the problems before us.

THE ALL-INDIA SERVICES ACT

2. A few months before India gained Independence, a decision was taken that one of the primary needs of the federal constitution envisaged for India would be the setting up of All India Services common to the Centre and to the States. The members were to be recruited from the intelligent youth of the country by competitive examinations of high standard. They were to be free from political control, contented and having a sense of security. The idea was to build up a bureaucracy consisting of efficient officers of integrity and impartiality who could man important administrative posts and make possible the continued governance of the country unaffected by periodical changes in the political set-ups in the Centre and variou