Petitioners in these Original Petitions challenge the seniority list of Upper Division Clerks published in the Kerala Gazette dated 7.8.90. It is their case that party respondents; who were juniors in the cadre of Lower Division Clerks, have been wrongly assigned seniority over them in the cadre of Upper Division Clerks. Hence these Original petitions.

2. Since identical issues arise for consideration in these Original Petitions, I consider it advantageous to dispose of them by a common judgment.

3. In the general pay revision order issued in G.O.(P) 290/69/Fin. dated 9.6.1969, the ratio between Upper Division Clerks and Lower division Clerks, was revised as 1:2 with effect from 1.7.1968. One additional post of Upper Division Clerk was sanctioned to each Assistant Educational Office, as per G.O. (Rt) 3170/69/Fin.dated 18.9.1969. Consequently, a large number of vacancies in Upper Division Cadre became available. By G.O. (P) 635/69/fin. dated 27.11.1969, orders were issued for improving the promotion avenues of ministerial staff. Posts of Head Clerk were also sanctioned to all Assistant Educational Offices with effect from 27.11.1969. Consequently, 150 senior Upper Division