JUDGMENT :

Ashok Bhushan, J.

Delay condoned. Leave granted.

2. These appeals have been filed challenging the judgment dated 03.03.2017 of Division Bench of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh allowing the Writ Petition No.1056 of 2016 and other connected writ petitions.

3. The questions which have arisen for determination in this batch of appeals relate to inter se seniority dispute between three streams of Punjab Superior Judicial Service, i.e.,

(i) the officers promoted on the basis of merit-cum-seniority under 50% quota (hereinafter referred to as “promotees”);

(ii) the direct recruits under 25% quota (hereinafter referred to as “direct recruits”); and

(iii) officers promoted on the basis of limited departmental competitive examination under 25% quota (as it then existed) (hereinafter referred to as “out of turn promotees”).

4. The members of Punjab Superior Judicial Service had filed writ petition in the High court challenging the seniority list dated 24.12.2007 issued by the High Court determining the inter se seniority of the members of the Punjab Superior Judicial