( 1 ) * * * *

( 2 ) THE above Rules (Indian Administrative Service (Pay) Rules 1954) and particularly Rule 5 make it clear that the confidential report is mooted for the purpose of assessing the four attributes of a public service namely his performance his character his conduct and his qualities. As observed during the course of the period under report from the very nature of things also these are four conceivable heads under which an officers performance can be assessed and adjudged. If an Officer is to be adjudged meritorious or otherwise it would be on the basis of these four broad factors and none other. It is in consonance with common sense also. If no arbitrariness is to be allowed to have its play if personal likes and dislikes in the assessment of the merit or otherwise of a public officer are to be avoided the assessment of an Officers worth has to be based on these four well-known criteria. Whoever certifies a public servant as a man of good performance character conduct and qualities has to do so on the basis of some objective material. Similarly if he devalues him for the purpose of judging his suitability for the post or for some higher post or grades th