JUDGMENT

V. Kameswar Rao, J. The challenge in this writ petition by the petitioners is to the order/judgment dated 07.03.2012 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi (the Tribunal) in O.A No. 3716/2011, whereby the Tribunal had allowed the O.A by quashing order dated 15.09.2011 and directed the petitioners to open the sealed cover adopted in the case of the respondent in the matter of promotion to the post of Commissioner, Income Tax and awarded back wages with costs quantified at Rs.10,000/-.

2. Brief facts which are not disputed are that the respondent was appointed as Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax on 16.12.1987. Thereafter he was promoted as Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax and Additional Commissioner of Income Tax in December, 1991, July, 2001 and November, 2001. That on 31.05.2001 the CBI registered an FIR no. RC-1(A)/2001/CBI/ACU-VI/New Delhi, dated 31.05.2001, under Section 120-B IPC read with Section 13(2) & 13(1) (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Sanction to prosecute the respondent was accorded twice, one on 02.06.2006 and the other one on 25.09.2008. It appears that the first one was a