I.A. Ansari, J.

1. The appellant Nos. 1 and 2 herein were, initially, appointed, on 9.3.1982 and 4.12.1982, respectively, in the scale of pay of Rs. 260,425, as Computer, in the Directorate of Evaluation, which falls under the Department of Planning and Coordination, Government of Nagaland. While the appellant No. 1 was promoted to the post of Evaluation Inspector/Investigator (Class-II Gazetted) on 5.12.1987, in the scale of pay of Rs. 640,1445, the appellant No. 2 was promoted to the post of Evaluation Inspector/Investigator on 3.7.1987, with effect from 22.6.1987, in the same scale of pay as mentioned hereinbefore. By Notification, dated 27.6.1993, the appellant No. 2 was promoted to the post of Evaluation Officer ('EO') in the scale of pay of Rs. 1,800-3,700 and has continued in the same capacity till date; whereas the appellant No. 2 was promoted, vide Notification, dated 10.6.1994, to the post of EO (Class-II Gazetted), on officiating basis, in the scale of pay as indicated hereinbefore and has continued till date.

2. The private respondent Nos. 3 and 5, both of whom were Inspector of Statistics (Class-III Non-Gazetted), which fall under the Directorate of Economics and