( 1 ) THIS appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent is directed against a judgment dated 8-11-90 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court whereby the writ application filed by respondents 1 to 21 (minus 3 of them) was allowed setting aside the impugned gradation list of the Assistant Engineers (Agri-Mechanical) and with directions to the State-respondents to prepare such gradation list afresh in accordance with law and in the light of observations contained in the judgment of the learned single Judge.

( 2 ) BRIEF facts leading to the filing of the appeal are that the writ petitioners (Respondents in this appeal) were serving as Sub-Assistant Engineers, having been initially appointed on these posts by the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal on different dates.

( 3 ) IN the Department of Agriculture (Minor Irrigation), Government of West Bengal there are two classes of Assistant Engineers (Agri-Mechanical)-one class comprising of the promotee Assistant Engineers ( from the lower class of Sub-Assistant Engineers) and the other being the direct recruit Assistant Engineers selected through the Public Service Commission.

( 4 ) THE dispute