Vinod Chandran, J:

The dispute raised in the above appeals pertains to the seniority in the cadre of Havildars of the Kerala Police.

2. The admitted facts are that, earlier appointments as Police Constables, through the Public Service Commission [for brevity “PSC”], were made only to the Armed Police Battalions within the State. Subsequently on options being made for transfer, the Police Constables who have expressed their options are transferred to the District Armed Reserve; the launch pad to the local police. Vacancies in the local police are filled up from the District Armed Reserve and the Police Constables from the Battalions are accommodated in the resultant vacancies in the District Armed Reserve. The State had also brought out the Kerala Police Subordinate Services (Armed Police Battalions) Special Rules [for brevity “Special Rules”], which prescribed the method of appointment to the post of Havildar.

3. The petitioners in W.P.(C).No.34903 of 2007 are the respondents 1 to 4 in W.A.No.2737 of 2009. The petitioners in W.P.(C).No.8077 of 2009 are the respondents 1 to 3 in W.A.No.2744 of 2009. The respondents in the respective writ petitions are the appellants in the said