JUDGMENT :

R. Subbiah, J.

1. The Sub-Inspectors of Police (Men), who were recruited in the year 1994-1995, either through Direct Recruitment or In-service Candidates, have waged a pitched battle for fixation of inter se Seniority by filing these Writ Petitions/Writ Appeal.

2. The brief facts which are necessary for disposal of these cases are narrated hereinafter:

3. The Director General of Police & Chairman of Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (in short Board) had issued Notification, dated 1.1.1994 inviting Applications for Selection and Appointment of 500 Sub-Inspectors of Police by Direct Recruitment. As per the aforesaid Notification, dated 1.1.1994, aspiring Candidates must have completed 20 years of age and should not be more than 30 years as on 1.1.1994. In the recruitment drive, the Departmental Candidates also applied, however, most of them had crossed 30 years and therefore, they could not be considered and their Applications were returned on the ground of not fulfilling the age criteria. Aggrieved by the same, some of the In-service Candidates working in the Police Department approached the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal for brevity) by