JUDGMENT :

Heard Mr. Y. S. Mannan, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. K. Konwar, learned Additional Advocate General, Assam assisted by Mr. S. Dutta, learned Standing Counsel, P&RD for the respondents.

2. The petitioners, namely, Sri Dhruba Bharali and Sri Sanjib Das, have approached this Court by filing the instant writ petition seeking a direction to the respondent-authorities to promote them to the post of Assistant Engineers with effect from 26.12.2019, i.e., the date from which their immediate juniors were promoted. A further direction is also sought for release of all consequential service benefits.

3. The facts of the case, evident from a perusal of the pleadings, are that the petitioner No.1 was appointed as Junior Engineer under the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Government of Assam (P&RD) in the year 1985. He joined the said post on 24.07.1985 and was posted at Chinthong Development Block, Hamren, Karbi Anglong. He was, thereafter, transferred and posted in other Development Blocks during the course of his service tenure. At the time of filing of the writ petition, the petitioner No.1 was posted at Tapattary Development Block, Abhayapuri under B