JUDGMENT

Jyoti Singh, J. Present writ petition has been filed seeking a writ of mandamus directing the Respondents to rescind or recall paragraph 5 (xiv) of Notification dated 19.09.2016 under the subject `Personnel Policy for Group `A' S & T Officers of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and its Organization', to the extent it uses the expression `prior to the issue of this policy Notification', as unconstitutional, being violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Mandamus is also sought directing the Respondents to rescind and recall the Circular dated 10.12.2021, issued by Respondent No.1/Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. In a nutshell, the grievance ventilated in the writ petition is against the discrimination created between those officers, who are promoted as Scientist-B prior to the cut-off date of 19.09.2016 in the policy and those promoted after, which has allegedly impacted further promotions.

2. Factual expose to the extent relevant and as averred in the writ petition are that Petitioner is an Association comprising of about 3500 members posted in various Districts of different States of India in various posts/categories und