Judgment-

NATARAJAN

( 1 ) THIS appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment of the High Court of Karnataka in W. A. No. 493 of 1983 affirming the dismissal of W. P. No. 119 of 1983 filed by the appellant. In the said writ petition the appellant challenged an order dated 15-12-82 of the Government of Karnataka rejecting the statutory appeal preferred by him regarding the fixation of his seniority in the cadre of "labour Inspectors" with effect from 21-12-1967 on which date his services as a "local-candidate" came to be regularised under the Karnataka Civil Services (Recruitment of Local Candidates to Class III Posts) Rules,. 1966 ("regularisation Rules" for short ). The appellants grievance is that his seniority should have been reckoned from the date of his temporary appointment viz. 17-10-1960 and that too in a post equivalent to that of Assistant Inspector of Labour in the Madras State Service. The appellant, who appears to have been appearing in person in all his earlier cases, appeared in person before us too and argued his appeal.

( 2 ) FOLLOWING a communication from the Labour Commissioner, Bangalore, the Inspector of Factories, Bangalore issued an order of appointm