( 1 ) UNDER appeal is the order of a Division Bench of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh. The order was passed on writ petition filed by the same two writ petitioners, one in respect of the post of Dean of the respondent-University and the other in respect of the post of Director (Research) in the same University. Both the writ petitioners were unsuccessful candidates for the posts. The High Court found that the writ petitioners has established their case but denied them relief on the ground that a period of nine years had elapsed after the appointment of the third respondents in each of the writ petitions to the posts.

( 2 ) THE appeal is only by one of the two writ petitioners, namely Dr. C. M. Singh, and the appeal is restricted to the post of Dean. This is because the third respondent in one of writ petitions, who was appointed Director (Research), has now retired.

( 3 ) THE challenge in the writ petitions was that on the last date for receipt of the application the two-third respondents had not completed the minimum period of service in the concerned post as required by the rules, and that, therefore, they were not eligible for being considered for appointment to the posts of