JUDGMENT

N Kotiswar Singh

1. Heard Mr. Nilay Dutta, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. N. Sarkar,. learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. B. Goswami, learned Addl. Advocate General, Assam assisted by Ms. S. Chutia, learned Standing Counsel, Water Resources Department for respondent Nos. 1 to 4 and Mr. K. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Education (Technical) Department for respondent No.5.

2. In this petition, the petitioners have sought for a direction from this Court to be issued to the State respondents to promote the petitioners to the posts of Assistant Engineers (Civil) as per recommendation made by the State Selection Board and Assam Public Service Commission and as approved by the State Government.

3. Mr. N. Dutta, learned senior counsel for the petitioners has narrated the factual background and submitted as follows.

4. All the petitioners are presently serving as Junior Engineers (Civil) in the Water Resources Department, Government of Assam. They possess the academic qualification of AMICE (I) which is admittedly equivalent to Bachelor of Engineering (B.E). They all claim to be eligible for promotion to the higher posts of Assistant Engineers in the same