N. P. Singh, J.–Petitioner has filed this application for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to correct the entry in the service book of the petitioner relating to his date of birth on basis of his matriculation certificate and for quashing different ORDER :s passed by the respondents authorities rejecting the request of the petitioner for the said correction.

2. Petitioner was appointed as Literate Constable in the year 1950. In the service book, 1927 was mentioned as the year of birth of the petitioner. In February, 1962, petitioner appeared and passed the Matriculation Examination. In the matriculation certificate 6.1.1932 was mentioned as the date of birth of the petitioner.

3. In the year 1976, a decision was taken by the State Government to give an opportunity to the employees of the Police Department to get the dates of their birth mentioned in their service books to be corrected with reference to the dates of birth mentioned in the matriculation certificates. The aforesaid decision was communicated to the Inspector General of Police, Bihar, by a fetter dated 26.2.1976, issued by the Home (Police) Department. Pursuant to that decision petitioner filed an ap