N. KUMAR J.

In these batch of writ petitions the petitioners have challenged the order passed by the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal at Bangalore dt.9.4.2010 dismissing the applications filed by the applicants challenging the constitutional validity of Karnataka State Civil Services (Absorption of Asst. Engineers and Junior Engineers appointed on contract basis and on ad-hoc basis in the water resource services) (Special) Rules, 2002 (for short Absorption Rules).

BACKGROUND

2. The Upper Krishna Project was started by the Government of Karnataka during the year 1964. The project was envisaged to provide irrigation facilities to the lands in the basis area covering the then Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bidar, Raichur and Bellary Districts which are chronic deficit rain fall areas. To utilise its share of river water, the State was required to complete the project within a definite time frame and any delay would have endangered the project itself with the lower riparian States insisting that actual utilisation should be taken as the basis for inter-State sharing of river waters. Even after 30 years of commencement of the project, there was absolutely dismal progress and completion of