JUDGMENT

SHARMA, J,— Civil Appeal No. 173 of 1986- By the judgment under appeal the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal has accepted the claim of seniority pressed by the respondents in their Representation Petition No. 1589 of 1983.

2. The respondents were working as Lower Division Clerks (LDCs) in the district police offices/units in Andhra Pradesh, when the question of appointing LDCs in the Chief Office arose. It was decided to give an opportunity to the LDCs working in the district police offices/units on the condition that they would be willing not to rely upon their service rendered in the district police offices/units for the purpose of seniority and that their seniority would be counted with effect from the date they joined the Chief Office. Accordingly a Memorandum Re. No. 1020/S1/68 dated November 21, 1968 (Annexure A) was issued to the district police offices/units. The choice was limited to probationers and approved probationers having good service records. The letter expressly stated that the appointees were to be put at the bottom of the list of probationers or approved probationers already working in the Chief Office. Immediately thereafter the respondents and tw