(1) THE State of Punjab represented by the Secretary, Department of Agriculture and the Director of Horticulture, Punjab filed this civil appeal challenging the judgment/order of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana allowing the writ petitions filed by the respondents, directing the appellants herein to consider the cases of the respondents by counting ad hoc services rendered by them for the purpose of fixation of their pay in the revised scales of pay and grant them senior and selection grade, proficiency step-up and seniority on that basis.

(2) THE respondents were initially appointed as Horticulture Inspectors on ad hoc basis without following the procedure laid down in the recruitment rules. Subsequently their services were regularised and orders appointing them on regular/ substantive basis were issued. The appointments of the respondents (ad hoc and regular) were made prior to 1.9.1989. The question for consideration is whether the ad hoc services rendered by them is to be included for the purpose of calculating 8 or 18 years service which is required for giving them the higher scale of pay under the proficiency step-up scheme for seniority etc. This question