JUDGMENT :

ALEXANDER THOMAS, J.

Since, the issues raised in these cases are broadly similar, these Original Petitions are disposed of on the basis of this common judgment. O.P.(KAT) No.120/2021 is taken as the lead case for the purpose of convenience.

O.P.(KAT) No. 120/2021

2. The above Original Petition has been filed by the State and the Police Department authorities to impugn Ext.P-5 final order dated 4.3.2021 rendered by the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam Bench, in O.A.(Ekm)No.1616/2020. As indicated hereinabove, the petitioners in the O.P. are respondents in the O.A. and the sole respondent in the O.P. is the sole applicant in the O.A. The respondent herein will be referred for convenience as the original applicant/applicant.

3. The original applicant was holding the post of Sub Inspector of Police (General Executive) in the Kerala Police Force, and going by seniority, he had put up his claim for regular promotion to the next higher category post of Inspector of Police. The appointment by promotion is to a selection post on the basis of criteria of merit-cum-suitability to be adjudged by the Departmental Promotion Committee-Lower (DPC-Lower). The applicant came in the fi