1. In this writ petition, though merely the impugned seniority lists are under challenge, the issue raised in this writ petition has a history of at least quarter century and hence, the factual matrix as has been averred in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition on behalf of the writ petitioners are culled out and given in nutshell as follows:

(i) The writ petitioners were eligible to be appointed as Assistant Engineers in the Highways Department in the year 1989-90. Based on the request made by the State Government, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as, 'Service Commission') has conducted a competitive examination. These writ petitioners, since had qualified to become Assistant Engineers, had applied and participated in the said competitive examination, and through which, they had been selected and appointed.

(ii) In this regard, the further facts leading to the said recruitment is that a notification was issued on 12.09.1989 by the Service Commission to fill up 60 vacancies for selecting candidates for appointment to the post of Assistant Engineers in the Highways Department for the year 1989-90.

(iii) These writ petitioners after