The issue involved in these writ petitions are whether the police officials, who have been accorded one stage accelerated promotion by virtue of G.O.Ms.No.1252 dated 210. 2004, for the service rendered by them in the elimination of sandal wood veerappan are eligible for further promotion, they being seniors to the promotional post, even though they were juniors to several persons in the original post which they were holding, before their accelerated promotion.

2. The short facts which led the petitioners to file the above referred writ petitions set out in the affidavit in support of the writ petitions, in nut shell are stated here under:-

1. The petitioners were police constables, Sub-Inspectors, Inspector of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police etc., before the Government issued G.O.Ms.No. Home (Pol VIII) department 1252 dated 210. 2004. By virtue of the said G.O, the petitioners were awarded accelerated promotion for the service rendered by them for the elimination of Sandal Wood Veerappan. One stage accelerated promotion was given to 748 Special Task Force personnel involved in the operation.

2. In G.O.Ms.No.468 dated 19.03.1996, certain guidelines have been iss