JUDGMENT :

KALYAN RAI SURANA, J.

1. Heard Mr. M. Pertin, learned senior counsel, assisted by Mr. M. Pertin, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. R.H. Nabam, learned Additional Advocate General of the State, assisted by Ms. P. Pangu, learned Junior Government Advocate appearing for respondent Nos. 1 to 5 and Mr. R. Saikia, learned counsel for the private respondent Nos. 6 and 7.

2. By filing this writ petition under article 226 of the Constitution of India, the 10 petitioners herein, claiming common cause of action, have assailed the recommendations made by the Departmental Promotion Committee (‘DPC’) in its minutes dated 24.7.2012, to regularize the promotion made to the respondent Nos. 6 and 7 from the post of Junior Engineer (Civil) [‘JE(C)’] to the post of Assistant Engineer (Civil) [‘AE(C)’] from the date of officiating promotion, i.e. 21.5.2005 and 31.8.2005/respectively. The petitioners have also prayed for issuance of a direction upon the respondent-authorities to prepare a seniority list of AE(C) in the ratio of 50:50 (i.e. promotees and direct recruitees).

3. In this writ petition, it is projected that initially the Public Works Department was the only Engineeri