Judgment

RANGANATH MISRA, J.:- These are appeals by special leave; the first one by Nagaraja, the main contestant, and the second by the State of Karnataka challenging the decision of the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal by which the Tribunal accepted the claim of inter se seniority of respondent No. 1.

2. In the Directorate of Youth Services of the State, there are posts of Assistant and Deputy Directors. Appellant Nagaraja joined service under the State Government as a Lecturer on 6-7-1966 and came on deputation as Editor of Youth Karnataka from 18th of August,1976. While working as such Editor he was confirmed as an Assistant Director in the Youth Directorate. On 27th of March, 1978, Nagaraja was temporarily promoted as the Deputy Director for a period of six months. On 20th of October, 1978, an order was made promoting Nagaraja regularly as Deputy Director and on 22-12-1978 his appointment was made on regular basis with effect from 27-3-1978.

3. Gudodagi, respondent No. 1, was recruited directly as Deputy Director on 28-7-1978. He joined on 7-8-1978 and was confirmed in the said post on 7-8-1980. The draft Gradation List was published on 25-1-1983 wherein Nagaraja was shown