The primal question to be determined in this writ petition is whether the so called Engineers, who are merely Diploma holders, can be permitted entry into the service under Bihar Engineering Service Class-I, allowing them promotion to the post of Executive Engineer, Superintending Engineer and Chief Engineer?

2. This writ petition has been heard at length for several days and with consent of all the parties, it is being disposed of at this stage itself. Mr. Ram Naresh Shukla, Advocate appeared for the petitioners in support of the writ petition, Mr. Piyush Lall, Assistant Counsel to learned Additional Advocate General-I appeared on behalf of the State and Mr. Chitranjan Sinha, learned Senior Counsel ably assisted by Mr. Aakashdeep, Advocate appeared for the contesting respondents.

3. Originally this writ petition was filed on 21.09.2006 challenging Annexure-11, the letter from the Road Construction Department, Government of Bihar, Patna to the Bihar Public Service Commission (hereinafter in short B.P.S.C.), being letter dated 26.08.2006. By this letter, the Department informed the B.P.S.C. in response to the letter dated 22.07.2006 of the B.P.S.C. (Annexure-A to the coun