Judgment

RANGANATH MISRA, J. - These two appeals are by special leave and are directed against one and the same judgment of the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal. I the first matter the appellants are a group of promotee Assistant Engineers in the Irrigation Department "While in the second the State of Andhra Pradesh is in appeal. The dispute is between direct recruits and promotees to the post of Assistant Engineer in regard to respective seniority and consideration of their claims for further promotion to the post of Executive Engineer.

2. We have today disposed of Writ Petitions Nos. 17165-86 of 1985* and 1240 of 1985*1 where a similar question relating to Assistant Engineers in the Roads and Buildings Wing was considered. The same principle applies in regard to the service relating to the, Irrigation Wing. Rule 2-C(l) of the Special Rules provides that in respect of the substantive vacancies in the category of Deputy Executive Engineers (redesignation of Assistant Engineers), 371/2% shall be filled by direct recruitment and the remaining 621/2% shall be filled by transfer of additional Assistant Engineers and draftsmen of the Andhra Pradesh Engineering Subordinate Service an