( 1 ) RULE. Heard learned counsel for the parties. The petitioner has been appointed as an Extension Officer [cooperation] at the District Panchayat, Surat on 27/5/1964. At his own request, the petitioner was transferred from Surat Panchayat to District Panchayat, Mehsana at Chanasama on 1/3/1981. As the transfer from one district to another district has taken place at the request of the petitioner, he was placed at the bottom of seniority amongst the Extension Officers as on that date in the District Panchayat, Mehsana, resulting in that for the purpose of seniority amongst Extension Officer of the District on that date, the length of continuous officiation on the post was not taken as criteria of promotions, but was determined on the basis of special rule governing fixing seniority on being transferred to other district on own request, though for all other purpose, the benefit of past service the petitioner carried with him. Vide Government Resolution dated 5th July 1991, the employees were suffering stagnation who have been given benefits of stepping up to three higher grades on the completion of 9 - 18 - 27 years of service respectively, that is to say, on completio