JUDGMENT

A.K.SIKRI, J.

Leave granted.

2. These appeals were heard together and are being disposed of by this judgment because of commonality of issues therein. The judgment impugned is also the same, i.e., judgment dated August 07, 2015 passed by the High Court of Gauhati.

3. Mr. Debajit Das (respondent No.1 herein) was appointed as an Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department on September 30, 1996 and on completing six years of service he was promoted to the post of Assistant Executive Engineer in December 2002. Subsequently, a post for ex-cadre Executive Engineer was created and he was promoted to the said post vide Notification dated April 02, 2005. Respondent No.1 was granted regular promotion by encadering him on the recommendation of the Selection Committee pursuant to its meeting dated July 27, 2005.

4. On October 14, 2014, an inter se seniority list of Executive Engineers was published and within three days a Selection Committee meeting was convened for promotion to the post of Superintending Engineer. Although the Selection Board proceeded on the basis that ther