I.A. Ansari, J.

1. Whether the period of service, which a government servant, though qualified for promotion, spends on officiating basis uninterruptedly on a promotional post, shall be counted for the purpose of seniority, when his promotion is regularized, is the moot question, which arises for consideration in the present case.

2. The petitioner in this writ petition was, on 12.5.1988, appointed as Junior Engineer (Electrical), hereinafter called "JE(E)", in the Department of Power, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. On 14.7.1997, the petitioner was appointed on officiating basis to a vacant post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical), hereinafter referred to as AE(E). Similar to the petitioner, 5 other persons were also appointed, on 20.8.1997, as AE(E) on officiating basis against vacant posts. As per the Arunachal Pradesh Power Engineering Service Rules, 1993 (hereinafter referred to as "the relevant Recruitment Rules"), a diploma holder with 10 years' experience in the grade of JE is eligible for promotion to the post of AE. Being a diploma holder, the petitioner became eligible for promotion to the post of AE(E) on 12.5.1998. The petitioner, accordingly, on 26.5.1998, made