JUDGMENT :

PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, J.

Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent against the order dated 21.09.2020 passed in W.P. No. 33006 of 2013.

1. As no adverse order is going to be passed against the respondent, notice to the respondent is dispensed with.

2. The writ appeal is preferred by the State against the direction given by this court to include the name of the respondent, who is the writ petitioner, in the panel of promotion, notionally for the purpose of terminal and pensionary benefits.

3. The parties are not in contradiction with the facts of the case. The writ petitioner was an Assistant Engineer with the appellants from 23.07.1979 and retired from service on 28.02.2013. Before his retirement he was fully qualified to be promoted as Superintending Engineer during the year 2012. As he was not included in the panel of promotion list despite the existing vacancies, the writ petition was filed.

4. Admittedly as per Rule 4(a) of the General Rules for the Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Services, the appellants prepare a panel annually of the eligible candidates for promotion to the next higher category. The crucial date for preparation of the panel for t