JUDGMENT

The petitioner was appointed as Assistant Engineer in the Irrigation Department of the Punjab Government on 15th July, 1968. He was, thereafter, given an option to join the Public Works Department [Buildings & Roads] [hereinafter referred to as PWD (B&R)] of the said Government. He accepted the offer and resumed his duties in the new Department on l4th January, 1969. In 1972, the PWD [B&R] invited applications for direct recruitment for the post of Assistant Engineer. The petitioner applied for one of them and he was formally appointed as a direct recruit in the said Department on 18th August. 1972. On 30th September/6th October, 1972, the Irrigation Department passed formal order relieving him from the Department which in fact ought to have been done on l4th January, 1969 when the petitioner had opted to join the PWD [B&R]. It appears that on his appointment in the PWD [B&R] as a direct recruit, he was sent on deputation to the Chandigarh Administration [Engineering Department] on 7th October, 1972.

In March, 1978, the petitioner made a request to the Chandigarh Administration to absorb him in their service by giving him the, benefit of service in the State Government right