Both these writ petitions concern the same issues and therefore they are disposed of by a common judgment. Both petitioners were working as Assistant Devaswom Commissioners at the time of filing of the writ petitions. The reliefs sought for is to quash the order by which respondents 3 and 4 are assigned seniority over the petitioners. The said order is produced as Ext.P12 in Writ Petition No.21062/2007 and Ext.P10 in the other writ petition.

2. The relevant facts in relation to Writ Petition No.21062/2007 are the following: The petitioner entered service as L.D. Clerk pursuant to Ext.P1 appointment order dated 27.1981. The next promotion is to the post of U.D.Clerk. The same depends upon passing Devaswom Officers Test and Account Test (Lower). The petitioner passed Devaswom Officers Test on 10.2.1983 and Account Test (Lower) on 5.1984.

3. The petitioner in Writ Petition No.34409/2007 entered service as a Lower Division Clerk on 210.1978 as evidenced by the appointment order Ext.P1. He has got SSLC and has passed Account Test (Lower) and Devaswom Officers Test in June, 1982 and 8.5.1984 respectively.

4. Both the petitioners were promoted as U.D. Clerks as per order dated