JUDGMENT

FAIZAN UDDIN, J.-—Leave granted.

2. In this appeal by special leave, the appellants have challenged the order dated 20-8-1993 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad Bench at Hyderabad in Original Application No. 765 of 1993 filed by the 16 respondents herein questioning the order dated 26-5-1993 whereby they were transferred from Hyderabad Telecom District to the Telangana District of Andhra Pradesh Telecom Service.

3. The respondents herein were working as Junior Engineers in the Telephone District, Hyderabad as on 1-11-1986 under the administrative control of the General Manager, Telephone District, Hyderabad. The respondents were either recruited in the Telephone District, Hyderabad or they were transferred under Rule 38 from other districts and had joined Hyderabad District on bottom seniority. Originally the Telephone District, Hyderabad was a separate independent unit by itself and the recruitment, transfers and postings of the entire staff including the Junior Engineers were confined to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad which were under the jurisdiction and administrative control of General Manager, Telephone District, Hyderabad.

4. The re