JUDGMENT :

A.K. Sikri, J.

Leave granted in Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos. 8710 of 2009, 14361 of 2009 and 19750 of 2011.

2. In all these appeals, issue relates to the validity of ‘Demobilized Armed Forces Personnel (Reservation of Vacancies in the Himachal Pradesh State Non-Technical Services) Rules, 1972 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘1972 Rules’). These 1972 Rules provide for reservation to the Released Indian Armed Forces Personnel in non-technical services in the State of Himachal Pradesh. Provision is also made in the 1972 Rules for conferring the benefit of counting approved military service of such Released Armed Forces Personnel for the purpose of fixation of their seniority and pay in civil employment. It is the validity of these Rules which is the subject matter in most of these appeals. However, for the sake of convenience and better understanding, we would take note of the events from Civil Appeal No.____ of 2017 @ SLP (C) No. 8710 of 2009.

3. The appellants in these appeals are Released Armed Forces Personnel. They were initially taken in the Army where they ser