JUDGMENT

YOGESHWAR DAYAL, J :—This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment of the Division Bench of the High Court of Allahabad dated 21st August, 1979 (reported in 1979 Lab IC 1355) whereby the High Court allowed the writ petition filed by the four petitioners therein and issued a writ of mandamus directing respondents 1, 2 and 3 (Comptroller & Auditor General of India, New Delhi, The Accountant General, I. U.P. Allahabad and the Union of India) not to enforce the circular dated 25th Jan., 1973 as a rule regarding reservation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in relation to filling up of posts by promotion on the basis of seniority subject to fitness. The aforesaid respondents were further restrained from promoting respondents 4, 5 and 6 in the writ petition to the post of Accounts Officers on the basis of the impugned circular dated 25th January, 1973. We would continue to refer to, the parties as per the cause title of the writ petition in the High Court.

2. The writ petition came to be filed by the petitioner , M.L. Mehrotra and three others .The petitioners said to be working as Section Officers in the office of the Accountant General I, II and III, Alla