JUDGMENT

Deepak Gupta, J.

Leave granted.

2. Both the appeals are being disposed of by a common judgment since the facts involved are similar and the legal issues involved are identical. Respondent No.1 in both the cases i.e., writ petitioners before the High Court had initially joined service as Airmen in the Indian Air Force. An advertisement was issued by the Union Public Service Commission in May, 2010 inviting applications for filling up of Group ‘A’ post of Assistant Commandant in the Central Reserve Police Force. Admittedly, the respondents (i.e., the original writ petitioners) had applied for this post but it now stands established on record that they had not sought permission of their higher authorities before submitting the application. It is not disputed that at the relevant time the original writ petitioners had not completed 7 years of service in the Air Force. It is also not disputed that as per Air Force Order No.14 of 2008 and Air Force Order No. 4 of 2012, a person employed in the Air Force must seek permission of the higher authority before applying for any post and is not eligible for applying for a civil post before completing 7 years of service in the Air Force.

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