JUDGMENT

V. Kameswar Rao, J. - On February 27, 2024, this Court had raised an issue of maintainability of the petition. The petitioner has filed the present petition with the following prayers:-

"A. Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing the Respondents to quash and set aside the promotion policy dated 23.12.2017, to the extent that it excludes the Intelligence Corps of the Indian Army from being considered for promotion to the rank of Lt. General from the Non General Cadre Staff Stream vacancies.

B. Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing the Respondents to include the Intelligence Corps to be considered for promotion in the NGCSS vacancies and create a vacancy at the rank of Lt. General for the officers to be promoted from the Intelligence Corps; and

C. Direct the Respondents to release a special vacancy for the Intelligence Corps to compensate for the long injustice meted out to the said Corps.

D. Direct the Respondents to consider the Petitioner for promotion to the rank of Lt. General against the special vacancy with restoration of 1985 seniority in the No