JUDGMENT

MOHAN, J.:- Leave granted.

2. All these cases can be dealt with under a common judgment.

3. Civil Appeal arising out of SLP(C) No. 16531 of 1992 has been preferred by Chandra Gupta and Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (C) No. 16718 of 1992 has been preferred by the Secretary, Department of Forest. These appeals challenge the correctness of the judgment of Central Administrative Tribunal, Lucknow in O.A. No. 170 of 1992 dated 15-9-92 (as amended on 18-9-92). Civil Appeals arising out of SLP(C) Nos. 1264-66 of 1992 preferred by Chandra Gupta are directed against the interlocutory orders dated 21-11-92, 27-11-92 and 21-2-92. (2-12-92?). The parties will be referred to as arrayed in Civil Appeal arising out of SLP(C) No. 16531 of 1992.

4. The Indian Forest Service is an All India Service. It is constituted under Section 2(a) of the All India Services Act, 1951. The appointments to the Indian Forest Service (Recruitment) are made by the Central Government under Rule 4 of 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the Recruitment Rules). Inter se seniority of the officers appointed by the various methods to the Indian Forest Service is determined by the orders issued by the Central Governm