Antony Dominic, J.

1. W.A. Nos. 1153/15 and 1188/15 are filed by the 3rd and 4th respondents in W.P.(C) 16529/13 and W.A. Nos. 1222/15 and 1233/15 are filed by additional respondents 4 to 8 and additional 9th respondent in W.P.(C) 28827/13. W.P. (C) 16529/13 was filed by respondents 5 to 8 in W.A. 1153/15, who are also respondents 1 to 4 in W.A. 1188/15. W.P.(C) 28827/13 was filed by the first respondent in W.A. Nos. 1222/15 and 1233/15. The issues raised in the Writ Petitions being connected, those cases were heard together and were disposed of by a common judgment rendered by the learned single Judge. For the same reason, these Writ Appeals were heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. The fate of these appeals would depend upon our decision on the sole question whether, for the purpose of promotion to the post of Principal of a Higher Secondary School, when seniority of teachers in the feeder category of Higher Secondary School Teacher (H.S.S.T.) is reckoned, a teacher is entitled to reckon his service as H.S.S.T. (Junior) also. In the j