JUDGMENT :

Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, J.

CIVIL APPEAL (@ SLP(C) No.26451 of 2014)

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal arises from an order of a learned Single Judge of the High Court of Manipur dated 10 December 2013. The High Court, by its impugned order, has issued a direction to the appellants to consider the case of the respondents (the petitioners before the High Court) if they are eligible and within the zone of consideration for promotion to the post of Naib Subedar against vacancies which occurred prior to the changes that were made in the structure of Assam Rifles in 2011 and before the enforcement of the Recruitment Rules for Warrant Officer in 2012. The High Court directed that such an exercise be carried out in respect of other Havildars against vacancies which had occurred prior to 2011.

3. The respondents were appointed between 1982 and 1989 on the post of Rifleman in Assam Rifles. At the relevant point of time, they were working as Havildars. Under the Rules, as they existed earlier, the promotional avenue for a Havildar lay to the post of Naib Subedar. Following the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, the Union of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs conveyed its