Dama Seshadri Naidu, J.

Introduction:

In a Review Petition in a Review Petition in a Writ Petition, so to say, the pleadings run into 50 pages: the facts confuse, the pleas confound, the parties multiply, the claims conflict. Confounding this is a writ appeal. As a result, we tread carefully—so carefully that at times we retrace our steps—and may sound repetitive, not to be lost in the maze.

2. In this multi-layered saga, many employees have litigated at various stages of these cases. So, to avoid chaotic cross references, we identify the parties on either side as two sets of employees and call them “the First Batch” and “the Second Batch.” Either of these batches may have many employees coming together or fighting alone. But each batch of employees has a distinct character and claim. First they fought for appoint, later for seniority.

3. To get at a needle of right, we must rake through a haystack of litigation. We will.

I. Case in Brief:

4. Kerala State Electricity Board (“the Board”) is the employer. One of the cadres in its service ranks is Assistant Engineer (Electrica